Carbon dioxide transport.

Senator Stern's carbon dioxide pipeline safety legislation establishes comprehensive state oversight of intrastate CO2 transportation, requiring the State Fire Marshal to develop and enforce new safety regulations by April 2026. The regulations must meet or exceed draft federal standards while mandating that CO2 can only be transported through newly constructed pipelines, not converted existing infrastructure.

The bill requires pipeline operators to demonstrate compliance with state environmental laws, including the California Endangered Species Act and Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, before receiving transportation permits. It empowers the State Fire Marshal to order immediate pipeline shutdowns for violations or safety risks and establishes a Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Safety Advisory Committee through 2036 to recommend additional safety measures and inform stakeholders of regulatory changes.

Civil penalties collected from violations will fund hazardous liquid and gas suppression training for local fire departments. The legislation also specifies that CO2 transportation can only count toward state greenhouse gas reduction requirements when conducted through pipelines meeting the new safety standards. This creates a direct link between pipeline safety compliance and California's climate goals under existing emissions reduction programs.