General plans: Local Electrification Planning Act.

Assembly Member Zbur's Local Electrification Planning Act requires California cities and counties with populations over 75,000 to develop comprehensive electrification and decarbonization plans between 2027 and 2030. These plans must outline strategies for expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure, transitioning buildings to electric power, and deploying renewable energy systems across residential and commercial areas.

The legislation mandates that local plans address specific infrastructure needs, including electric vehicle charging locations in public spaces, parking facilities, and along streets. Plans must also identify areas requiring electrical grid upgrades in coordination with utilities and outline approaches for supporting zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicle fleets. Local jurisdictions must incorporate measures to ensure disadvantaged communities, low-income households, and small businesses receive equitable access to zero-emission technologies and related investments.

Cities and counties may fulfill these requirements by either creating new standalone plans or incorporating the mandated elements into their next general plan update. Jurisdictions that have previously adopted similar plans meeting the specified criteria may designate those existing documents to satisfy the requirement. The act applies to all qualifying cities, including charter cities, based on legislative findings that greenhouse gas reduction through electrification constitutes a matter of statewide concern. Local agencies maintain authority to levy fees and assessments to fund implementation of the required planning activities.