Hydrofluorocarbon gases: sale and distribution prohibition: exemptions.

Assembly Member McKinnor's hydrofluorocarbon regulation bill revises California's approach to reclaimed refrigerants by replacing the broad exemption for reclaimed hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with targeted allowances for specific applications. The legislation maintains existing global warming potential (GWP) limits on bulk HFCs and blends, which decrease from 2,200 in 2025 to 750 by 2033.

The bill establishes new exemptions for certified reclaimed refrigerants that meet federal Environmental Protection Agency standards and contain no more than 15 percent new HFC content by weight. Time-limited exemptions apply to HFCs used in FDA-approved metered dose inhalers through 2030 and for ultra-low temperature applications through 2028. State-owned equipment must use refrigerants with GWP below 750 starting in 2025, though certified reclaimed refrigerants are exempt from this requirement.

Local agencies retain enforcement authority over violations without state reimbursement, as the changes fall under existing criminal statute modifications. Penalties collected from violations flow to the Air Pollution Control Fund. The bill includes an urgency clause for immediate implementation upon passage, citing the need to promote refrigerant reclamation and reuse rather than disposal.