SB-684
Energy & Environment

Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
2
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a Climate Superfund Program requiring major fossil fuel companies to pay for climate damages from 1990-2024.
  • Requires companies responsible for over 1 billion metric tons of emissions to pay their proportional share of damages.
  • Mandates that 40% of collected funds benefit disadvantaged communities impacted by climate change.
  • Creates enforcement mechanisms including business license revocation for companies that fail to pay assessed costs.

Summary

Senator Menjivar's Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act establishes a program requiring fossil fuel companies to fund California's climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation creates a mechanism to assess costs against entities responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1990-2024.

The California Environmental Protection Agency will identify responsible parties within 90 days and conduct a comprehensive climate cost study within one year to quantify damages through 2045. Companies must then pay their proportional share of total damages, calculated based on their emissions relative to global totals. Firms can opt to pay their assessed amount in full or in 20 annual installments.

The collected funds will support qualifying climate projects, with at least 40 percent directed to disadvantaged communities facing climate impacts. Eligible expenditures include disaster preparedness, energy efficiency improvements, workforce development, agricultural practices, and natural resource protection. The program requires regular evaluation by the Legislative Analyst's Office to assess effectiveness and recommend improvements.

The legislation preserves existing legal remedies related to climate damages and includes enforcement provisions such as late payment penalties and potential business license suspension for non-compliance. An urgency clause enables immediate implementation upon passage to address ongoing climate threats to public safety and welfare.

Key Dates

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

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 21 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 5
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Maria DurazoD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Lena GonzalezD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Chris WardD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Dawn AddisD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Damon ConnollyD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Angelique AshbyD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Caroline MenjivarD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Robert GarciaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Chris RogersD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Suzette ValladaresR
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-1243
Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025.
February 2025
Introduced
SB-1497
Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act of 2024.
February 2024
Failed
Showing 2 of 2 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

Caroline Menjivar
Caroline MenjivarD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Scott Wiener
Scott WienerD
California State Senator
Chris Ward
Chris WardD
California State Assembly Member
Henry Stern
Henry SternD
California State Senator
Chris Rogers
Chris RogersD
California State Assembly Member
Ash Kalra
Ash KalraD
California State Assembly Member
Lena Gonzalez
Lena GonzalezD
California State Senator
Robert Garcia
Robert GarciaD
California State Assembly Member
Damon Connolly
Damon ConnollyD
California State Assembly Member
Benjamin Allen
Benjamin AllenD
California State Senator
Dawn Addis
Dawn AddisD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Latest Voting History

April 2, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
5308PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a Climate Superfund Program requiring major fossil fuel companies to pay for climate damages from 1990-2024.
  • Requires companies responsible for over 1 billion metric tons of emissions to pay their proportional share of damages.
  • Mandates that 40% of collected funds benefit disadvantaged communities impacted by climate change.
  • Creates enforcement mechanisms including business license revocation for companies that fail to pay assessed costs.

Get Involved

Act Now!

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

Introduced By

Caroline Menjivar
Caroline MenjivarD
California State Senator
Co-Authors
Scott Wiener
Scott WienerD
California State Senator
Chris Ward
Chris WardD
California State Assembly Member
Henry Stern
Henry SternD
California State Senator
Chris Rogers
Chris RogersD
California State Assembly Member
Ash Kalra
Ash KalraD
California State Assembly Member
Lena Gonzalez
Lena GonzalezD
California State Senator
Robert Garcia
Robert GarciaD
California State Assembly Member
Damon Connolly
Damon ConnollyD
California State Assembly Member
Benjamin Allen
Benjamin AllenD
California State Senator
Dawn Addis
Dawn AddisD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Senator Menjivar's Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act establishes a program requiring fossil fuel companies to fund California's climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation creates a mechanism to assess costs against entities responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1990-2024.

The California Environmental Protection Agency will identify responsible parties within 90 days and conduct a comprehensive climate cost study within one year to quantify damages through 2045. Companies must then pay their proportional share of total damages, calculated based on their emissions relative to global totals. Firms can opt to pay their assessed amount in full or in 20 annual installments.

The collected funds will support qualifying climate projects, with at least 40 percent directed to disadvantaged communities facing climate impacts. Eligible expenditures include disaster preparedness, energy efficiency improvements, workforce development, agricultural practices, and natural resource protection. The program requires regular evaluation by the Legislative Analyst's Office to assess effectiveness and recommend improvements.

The legislation preserves existing legal remedies related to climate damages and includes enforcement provisions such as late payment penalties and potential business license suspension for non-compliance. An urgency clause enables immediate implementation upon passage to address ongoing climate threats to public safety and welfare.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Key Dates

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

Latest Voting History

April 2, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
5308PASS

Contacts

Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 21 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 5
Select All Legislators
Profile
Anna CaballeroD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Roger NielloR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Benjamin AllenD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Scott WienerD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Henry SternD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Maria DurazoD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Tom UmbergD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Lena GonzalezD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Chris WardD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Akilah Weber PiersonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Dawn AddisD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Damon ConnollyD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Angelique AshbyD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Caroline MenjivarD
Senator
Bill Author
Profile
Aisha WahabD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Robert GarciaD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Chris RogersD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Suzette ValladaresR
Senator
Committee Member

Similar Past Legislation

Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
AB-1243
Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025.
February 2025
Introduced
SB-1497
Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act of 2024.
February 2024
Failed
Showing 2 of 2 items
Page 1 of 1