Green Empowerment Zone for the Northern Waterfront area of the County of Contra Costa.

Senators Grayson and Cabaldon propose extending and expanding the Green Empowerment Zone for Contra Costa County's Northern Waterfront area through 2040, while restructuring its governance and adding environmental justice representation. The legislation authorizes four additional cities—El Cerrito, Pinole, Richmond, and San Pablo—to join the existing nine-city zone upon adopting resolutions of participation.

The bill reconfigures the zone's board of directors to include eight stakeholder groups, adding seven directors representing environmental and environmental justice organizations who live or work in the zone. Other board members include representatives from local governments, large employers, state agencies, small businesses, universities, labor organizations, and workforce development entities. The legislation also establishes procedures for jurisdictions to withdraw from the zone while preserving existing benefits for two years post-withdrawal.

Under the new governance structure, an executive committee will develop and track metrics on job creation, wage levels, grant acquisition, and workforce training within the zone. Beginning July 1, 2026, the zone must annually publish these metrics online and notify the Legislature. The board must meet quarterly and adhere to open meeting laws, with strict conflict of interest provisions requiring members to recuse themselves from matters where conflicts exist.