California Energy Consumer Freedom Act.

Assembly Member DeMaio's California Energy Consumer Freedom Act proposes new restrictions on state and local government authority to regulate gas-powered vehicles and natural gas appliances. The legislation would add provisions to both the Health and Safety Code and Public Resources Code prohibiting any rules or ordinances that limit the sale or use of gasoline-powered vehicles and equipment, as well as gas appliances in residential and commercial buildings.

The bill explicitly preempts local control over these energy policy decisions by declaring them matters of statewide concern. This designation would apply the restrictions uniformly across all California municipalities, including charter cities that typically maintain broader autonomy over local affairs. The provisions would prevent local governments from enacting ordinances that ban natural gas hookups in new construction or otherwise restrict gas appliance installation.

Under existing law, state agencies maintain authority to regulate vehicle emissions and appliance efficiency standards, while local governments can implement various energy-related building requirements. The Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, adopted by the California Air Resources Board, currently require all new passenger vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emission by 2035. This bill would constrain the ability of state and local entities to implement similar regulatory programs aimed at transitioning away from fossil fuel technologies.