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    SB-684
    Energy & Environment

    Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025.

    Introduced
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    2
    0
    Track
    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
    Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
    Senate Floor
    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
    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
    Bill Author
    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
    Bill Author
    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
    View Bill
    SB-1497
    Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act of 2024.
    February 2024
    Failed
    View Bill
    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

    View 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
    Senate Environmental Quality Hearing
    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
    Senate Floor
    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

    Latest Voting History

    View 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
    Bill Author
    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
    Bill Author
    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
    View Bill
    SB-1497
    Polluters Pay Climate Cost Recovery Act of 2024.
    February 2024
    Failed
    View Bill
    Showing 2 of 2 items
    Page 1 of 1