Energy & Environment

Authorizes San Bernardino County to sell 4.2 acres of Glen Helen Regional Park if replaced with better parkland. Requires the replacement park property to have equal or greater recreational value and accessibility. Mandates environmental assessments and property appraisals be completed by July 2028. Expires on January 1, 2029 if the county fails to acquire replacement parkland.

Establishes the East Bay Hills Conservation Program to protect 30,000 acres of natural habitat and recreation areas. Authorizes the East Bay Regional Park District to acquire land and implement conservation projects. Requires local governments to recognize the East Bay Hills as a statewide significant area by 2026. Mandates collaboration with Native American tribes on preservation and recreational initiatives.

Extends California's wildfire defense program indefinitely to enhance home protection and fire safety assessments. Requires assessors to complete enhanced home ignition zone inspection training by July 2026. Establishes a statewide reporting system to track defensible space compliance and direct enforcement. Authorizes trained volunteers and organizations to conduct fire safety assessments and educate property owners.

Expands CEQA exemptions to allow county parks to approve public access for nonmotorized recreation activities. Requires agencies to adopt natural resource management plans before approving trail access projects. Permits minimal improvements like signage and portable restrooms while protecting sensitive species. Mandates public meetings and 30-day notices before approving changes to recreational access.

Makes technical changes to coastal development permit fees and marine invasive species reporting requirements.

Modernizes hazardous waste reporting by allowing electronic submissions to a statewide information system. Establishes a clear priority order for laboratory waste treatment procedures to enhance safety standards. Expands exemptions for tanks containing hydraulic or dielectric fluids used in mechanical systems. Requires facilities to follow strict notification and record-keeping protocols for hazardous waste treatment.

Establishes a mandatory recycling fee on all mattress purchases in California. Allows retailers to pay recycling fees directly to recycling organizations on behalf of consumers. Requires sellers to educate consumers about mattress recycling and free disposal options. Mandates clear disclosure of recycling charges on sales receipts and documentation.

Prohibits the sale of any products or apps that can modify electric bicycle speed capabilities. Requires electric bicycle manufacturers to certify compliance with federal safety standards. Exempts electric bicycle operators from vehicle registration and driver's license requirements.

Increases Energy Commission certification fees to $750,000 for initial deposits and $70,000 for annual renewals. Extends funding for clean energy projects through the Electric Program Investment Charge program until January 2028. Appropriates $132 million for zero-emission truck and bus voucher incentives through 2027. Requires fossil fuel backup facilities to operate only during extreme grid events.

Exempts emergency evacuation route projects from environmental review in high-fire-risk subdivisions through 2032. Requires public agencies to meet strict environmental protection criteria and hold public meetings. Mandates consultation with wildlife officials and professional oversight during tree removal. Applies only to subdivisions with over 30 homes that lack adequate evacuation routes.

Requires utilities to provide climate credits on residential bills during July, August, and September annually. Changes climate credits from flat amounts to rates based on electricity usage. Allows utilities to use up to 15% of climate credit funds for clean energy projects.

Streamlines coastal development permits for university housing projects by deferring parking space decisions to universities. Establishes a fast-track 10-day review process for minor development plan changes that have no coastal impact. Requires the Coastal Commission to prioritize public transit over parking in university development plans. Mandates monthly public online tracking of all university coastal development plans and amendments.

Establishes a new Public Transmission Financing Fund to support clean energy infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships. Creates a streamlined permitting program to expedite local approval of clean energy projects with expert support and funding. Requires utilities to submit comprehensive wildfire mitigation plans every 4 years with enhanced safety and monitoring requirements. Mandates utilities to finance $15 billion in infrastructure undergrounding projects through ratepayer-protected financing mechanisms.

Establishes a new advisory group to develop safety standards for lithium-ion vehicle battery emergencies. Requires quarterly meetings between first responders, manufacturers, and experts through July 2028. Mandates development of emergency response standards for battery fires and accidents by July 2028.

Exempts critical wildfire prevention projects from environmental review requirements until January 2028. Requires public meetings 30 days before approving any fuel reduction projects in high-fire-risk zones. Mandates state agencies to report on emergency wildfire prevention activities by January 2026. Allows removal of hazardous vegetation and creation of fuel breaks to improve emergency access routes.

Establishes a new Clean Energy Infrastructure Authority to accelerate development of transmission lines and clean energy projects. Requires electrical utilities to submit comprehensive wildfire mitigation plans every 4 years instead of annually. Creates the POWER Program to reimburse utilities for public policy expenditures that benefit the general public. Mandates larger climate credits for low-income customers enrolled in CARE and FERA assistance programs.

Requires aggregate facilities near homes and schools to control dust emissions through new monitoring systems by 2027. Mandates facilities to maintain storage piles under 8 feet tall and install protective fencing around the property. Requires full enclosure of storage piles by July 2027 for facilities repeatedly exceeding pollution limits. Establishes monthly inspections for facilities that exceed particulate matter limits near sensitive areas.

Expands hazardous materials management funding eligibility to all California counties under 150,000 residents. Provides up to 75% of program costs for counties with fewer than 70,000 residents. Caps total funding at $60,000 per eligible county. Requires legislative budget approval before funds can be distributed.

Establishes new safety regulations for carbon dioxide pipelines to protect public health and the environment by April 2026. Requires all carbon dioxide pipelines to be newly constructed rather than converted from existing pipelines. Authorizes the State Fire Marshal to shut down carbon dioxide pipelines that violate safety standards. Mandates safety standards review every five years to maintain up-to-date protections.

Requires utilities to report on microgrid incentive funds by January 2026 to support vulnerable communities. Prioritizes funding for areas that have experienced multiple power shutoffs and critical infrastructure. Mandates unused program funds be returned to ratepayers as bill credits by January 2027. Prohibits utilities from collecting additional charges from ratepayers for this program.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to assess zero-carbon energy needs and opportunities by December 2026. Mandates identification of priority regions for deploying firm zero-carbon resources to ensure grid reliability. Establishes requirements to analyze market barriers and solutions for zero-carbon energy deployment. Creates a framework to evaluate clean energy resources for local and system-wide reliability.

Expands the Offshore Wind Protection Program to provide grants to local communities and tribes impacted by wind projects. Requires offshore wind companies to report all donations to local groups every 90 days for public disclosure. Mandates annual state reports on how capacity funding grants benefit communities affected by wind development. Authorizes funding for infrastructure readiness and environmental impact monitoring of offshore wind facilities.

Extends the sales tax exclusion program for clean energy and manufacturing projects through January 1, 2031. Adds nuclear fusion power facilities to projects eligible for tax benefits. Maintains annual funding cap at $100 million for qualifying projects. Requires economic and environmental impact reports to the Legislature by January 2027.

Requires state agencies to reduce paper use by 30% and achieve 50% reusable foodware options by 2030. Mandates state agencies to submit waste management plans by July 2027 for department review and approval. Establishes water bottle refill stations across state facilities to reduce single-use plastic waste. Requires state agencies to purchase plastic bottles with at least 25% recycled content starting January 2026.

Establishes a pilot program to reduce emissions from cargo handling equipment at California ports and rail yards. Requires cargo handling equipment to meet strict emission standards of less than 1g CO2 per kWh or km. Protects qualifying equipment purchased before December 31, 2027 from being banned during its useful life. Mandates manufacturers to obtain third-party validation of emission certifications and label qualifying equipment.