SB-285
Energy & Environment

Net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal: carbon dioxide removal: regulations.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes strict standards for carbon dioxide removal methods to help California achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
  • Requires carbon removal projects to match the longevity of the emissions they aim to counterbalance.
  • Prohibits the use of carbon removal technologies for enhanced oil recovery operations.
  • Mandates separate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide removal activities.

Summary

Senator Becker's carbon dioxide removal legislation establishes new standards for how California will count carbon removal efforts toward its net-zero emissions goals. The bill requires that only qualified carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods meeting specific durability and verification criteria can be used to counterbalance greenhouse gas emissions under state requirements.

The legislation creates a framework distinguishing between different types of emissions and their corresponding removal requirements. Emissions from fossil fuels must be balanced with durable carbon dioxide removal that provides long-term storage, while emissions from natural carbon cycles can be offset through qualified removal with equivalent storage duration. The bill defines qualified CDR as processes that permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using approved biomass sources or direct air capture, explicitly prohibiting the use of carbon capture for enhanced oil recovery.

Under the new requirements, entities must separately report their emissions and any CDR used for counterbalancing, including details about the types and durations of both. The State Air Resources Board maintains authority to adopt protocols for carbon dioxide utilization and storage methods, with the bill removing the previous January 2024 deadline for protocol development. These provisions operate alongside existing carbon market mechanisms and voluntary offset programs, which remain unaffected by the new standards.

The legislation responds to state planning documents indicating California will need approximately 75 million metric tons of carbon dioxide removal annually by 2045 to achieve its mandated net-zero emissions target. According to the bill's findings, while CDR should not delay emissions reductions, scientific assessments indicate it will be necessary for addressing residual emissions that persist even after phasing out fossil fuel combustion.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
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Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
SB-308
Net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal: carbon dioxide removal: regulations.
February 2023
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Josh Becker
Josh BeckerD
California State Senator
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/5/2025)

Latest Voting History

April 21, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
6017PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes strict standards for carbon dioxide removal methods to help California achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
  • Requires carbon removal projects to match the longevity of the emissions they aim to counterbalance.
  • Prohibits the use of carbon removal technologies for enhanced oil recovery operations.
  • Mandates separate reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide removal activities.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Josh Becker
Josh BeckerD
California State Senator

Summary

Senator Becker's carbon dioxide removal legislation establishes new standards for how California will count carbon removal efforts toward its net-zero emissions goals. The bill requires that only qualified carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods meeting specific durability and verification criteria can be used to counterbalance greenhouse gas emissions under state requirements.

The legislation creates a framework distinguishing between different types of emissions and their corresponding removal requirements. Emissions from fossil fuels must be balanced with durable carbon dioxide removal that provides long-term storage, while emissions from natural carbon cycles can be offset through qualified removal with equivalent storage duration. The bill defines qualified CDR as processes that permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using approved biomass sources or direct air capture, explicitly prohibiting the use of carbon capture for enhanced oil recovery.

Under the new requirements, entities must separately report their emissions and any CDR used for counterbalancing, including details about the types and durations of both. The State Air Resources Board maintains authority to adopt protocols for carbon dioxide utilization and storage methods, with the bill removing the previous January 2024 deadline for protocol development. These provisions operate alongside existing carbon market mechanisms and voluntary offset programs, which remain unaffected by the new standards.

The legislation responds to state planning documents indicating California will need approximately 75 million metric tons of carbon dioxide removal annually by 2045 to achieve its mandated net-zero emissions target. According to the bill's findings, while CDR should not delay emissions reductions, scientific assessments indicate it will be necessary for addressing residual emissions that persist even after phasing out fossil fuel combustion.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/5/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
Placed on suspense file
Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Senate Floor
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Latest Voting History

April 21, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Appropriations Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
6017PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 8 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tim GraysonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Megan DahleR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Kelly SeyartoR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Christopher CabaldonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Laura RichardsonD
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
SB-308
Net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal: carbon dioxide removal: regulations.
February 2023
Failed
Showing 1 of 1 items
Page 1 of 1