Bills to Watch 2025 by Isabel Solis

CA SB534 Green Empowerment

isolis — 2025-03-27 17:40:29 UTC

This bill establishes a Green Empowerment Zone for the Salton Sea and Southeastern Desert Valleys (Imperial, Eastern Coachella, and Palo Verde Valleys) to support economic development and the transition to a clean energy economy in a historically disinvested region. The empowerment zone will be governed by a diverse 49-member board representing local governments, tribal nations, businesses, labor, educational institutions, community organizations, and state agencies. The zone's primary goals include attracting public and private investments, leveraging tax incentives and grant programs, developing lithium extraction and processing capabilities, and improving quality of life for local residents. The board will be responsible for creating a regional economic plan, identifying transformative projects, enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and submitting annual progress reports to the Legislature starting in January 2027. The zone will focus on supporting communities that have historically experienced unequal distribution of environmental benefits, with a special emphasis on creating high-quality jobs, supporting small businesses, and facilitating economic opportunities. The empowerment zone is authorized until January 1, 2035, and aims to address administrative challenges that have previously hindered economic development in the region by providing a dedicated structure for collaboration and resource allocation

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1841161

CA SB369 Salton Sea: restoration projects: skilled and trained workforce.

isolis — 2025-03-27 17:43:22 UTC

This bill requires state agencies involved in Salton Sea restoration projects to ensure that all work falling within apprenticeship occupations in the building and construction trades is performed by a skilled and trained workforce, starting January 1, 2026. The bill highlights the economic challenges of Imperial County, where poverty rates are high and wages are significantly lower than the state average, and aims to address these issues by promoting high-quality, well-paying jobs. Specifically, for any contract over $50,000 related to Salton Sea restoration—which includes construction, alteration, repair, or improvement of ecosystem structures—contractors and subcontractors must commit to using workers who meet the "skilled and trained workforce" definition in the Public Contract Code. This requirement does not apply if the project is already covered by a project labor agreement that mandates a skilled and trained workforce. The bill defines key terms like "state agency" (specifically the Natural Resources Agency, Department of Water Resources, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife) and outlines exceptions to ensure flexibility while promoting local workforce development, job training, and economic opportunities in the region surrounding the Salton Sea.

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1833101

AB1016 Power facility and site certifications: thermal power plants: geothermal resources.

isolis — 2025-03-27 17:44:45 UTC

This bill modifies California's regulations for thermal powerplants that generate electricity using geothermal resources. Specifically, the bill requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to exempt certain geothermal power facilities from the standard certification process, but only until January 1, 2030. To qualify for this exemption, a thermal powerplant must be located in a county with an approved geothermal element in its general plan, have a generating capacity of up to 150 megawatts, and receive a finding from the local governmental agency that the facility will not have substantial adverse environmental impacts. Importantly, for these exempted geothermal projects, the local governmental agency with land use jurisdiction will serve as the lead agency for environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), instead of the state energy commission. The bill makes a technical change to shift the lead agency responsibility for these specific geothermal power projects, which could potentially streamline the certification and environmental review process for smaller geothermal power developments. The exemption is temporary, set to expire on January 1, 2030, after which the standard certification requirements would presumably be reinstated.

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1841333

AB1031 Hazardous waste control laws: exemption: geothermal resources.

isolis — 2025-03-27 17:45:43 UTC

This bill expands the exemption for geothermal waste from hazardous waste control laws by removing previously existing restrictions. Currently, geothermal waste generated from geothermal energy exploration, development, or production was only exempt under specific conditions, such as being contained within a piping system or surface impoundment for a limited time. The bill eliminates these conditional exemptions, making it easier for geothermal energy producers to manage their waste. Specifically, the bill removes previous provisions that would have required geothermal waste to be removed from storage areas after 18 months or when no longer actively regulated, and deletes detailed requirements about containment and notification. The bill does maintain that the exemption only applies to waste directly associated with geothermal energy exploration and production, and does not cover unrelated hazardous waste like used oil from machinery. Additionally, the bill makes a minor, non-substantive change to a requirement for the Board of Environmental Safety's annual review of the Department of Toxic Substances Control's performance. The overall intent appears to be reducing regulatory burden on geothermal energy producers while maintaining basic environmental protections.

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1841348

Steve Padilla

isolis — 2025-03-27 17:56:28 UTC

https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/26544

Jeff Gonzalez

isolis — 2025-03-27 17:57:01 UTC

https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/29340

Who has spoken on Bills

isolis — 2025-04-01 06:07:34 UTC

https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/

AB 513 California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: scoping plan

2025-04-01 06:28:57 UTC

An act to amend Section 38561 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to greenhouse gases.

This bill amends the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 by requiring the State Air Resources Board to include greenhouse gas emissions from wildlands and forest fires in its scoping plan, which is a strategic document outlining the state's approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, the board is already required to prepare a comprehensive plan for achieving maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emissions reductions, with the goal of reducing statewide emissions to at least 40% below the established limit by December 31, 2030. The bill specifically adds a provision mandating that the board's scoping plan now explicitly account for emissions generated by wildlands and forest fires, which represents a new and notable inclusion in the state's climate strategy. This amendment recognizes the significant contribution of wildfires to greenhouse gas emissions and ensures that these emissions are considered in California's broader climate change mitigation efforts. The existing law already requires the board to update the plan at least every five years and to consult with various state agencies, conduct public workshops, and consider economic and environmental impacts, so this bill builds upon the existing framework of the state's greenhouse gas reduction approach.

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1827435

Ana Maria Avila Farias

2025-04-01 06:38:03 UTC

https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/29326

AB1442 Essential Worker Commission

isolis — 2025-04-01 06:41:55 UTC

This bill proposes to establish the Essential Worker Commission within the Labor and Workforce Development Agency to address the challenges faced by undocumented workers in California. The commission will be composed of 16 members representing various stakeholders, including government agencies, labor unions, health organizations, and essential workers themselves. By July 1, 2027, the commission is mandated to comprehensively review and analyze critical issues affecting undocumented essential workers, such as workplace safety, wages, labor rights, workforce development, and emergency preparedness. The key focus is on understanding the significant contributions of approximately 1.6 million undocumented workers who are crucial to California's agricultural, construction, hospitality, healthcare, and domestic work sectors. By January 1, 2028, the commission is required to develop the Essential Worker Legal Work Program, which will propose policy recommendations and strategies to provide legal pathways for these workers to remain and work lawfully in California. The bill recognizes the economic vulnerability of these workers and aims to create a comprehensive approach to integrate them into the state's workforce while addressing their workplace protections and economic stability.

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1842699

SB350 Water Rate Assistance Program

isolis — 2025-04-01 06:55:25 UTC

This bill establishes the Water Rate Assistance Program to help low-income residential ratepayers afford water and wastewater services in California. The program creates a Water Rate Assistance Fund in the State Treasury, which will provide direct bill assistance to low-income households defined as those with annual incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline. The state board will administer the fund, with at least 80% of expenditures going directly to residential ratepayer accounts. Eligible households can be automatically enrolled if they are already receiving certain public assistance benefits like CalWORKs, CalFresh, or Medi-Cal, or if they are enrolled in energy assistance programs like CARE. The bill requires the state board to develop guidelines for program implementation, including processes for eligibility verification, fund distribution, and system participation. The program prioritizes systems that have historically faced environmental justice challenges and aims to ensure universal access to essential water services. The bill also establishes mechanisms for data sharing between utilities and the state board to streamline enrollment and authorizes the Attorney General to take legal action against systems not complying with the program's requirements. Funding for the program will come from state and federal sources, voluntary contributions, and other available funds.

Maria Elena Durazo

isolis — 2025-04-01 06:56:02 UTC

https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/23253

SB 819 Geothermal waste: exemption from generation and handling fees: study.

isolis — 2025-04-08 03:53:10 UTC

This bill requires the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to conduct a study and submit a report to the California Legislature by July 1, 2026, examining potential issues that could arise if geothermal waste currently subject to generation and handling fees were to be exempted from those fees. The study aims to explore the implications of changing the fee structure for geothermal waste, which is currently regulated under hazardous waste control laws. The bill includes a sunset provision, meaning the requirement for the study will become inoperative on July 1, 2030, and will be fully repealed on January 1, 2031. Additionally, the bill makes minor, non-substantive changes to existing legislative findings and declarations related to environmental quality, specifically in the Public Resources Code, but these changes do not alter the fundamental meaning or intent of the original text. The study is intended to provide policymakers with insights into the potential economic, regulatory, and environmental consequences of modifying the fee structure for geothermal waste management.

Latino Caucus Priority Legislation

isolis — 2025-04-09 23:11:40 UTC

Mark Gonzalez

isolis — 2025-04-16 17:23:41 UTC

https://legiscan.com/CA/people/mark-gonzalez/id/25338

SB473

isolis — 2025-04-23 17:10:47 UTC

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1838932

This bill addresses water conservation and rate-setting for water corporations in California by expanding existing regulations to better align water utility revenues with water conservation efforts. The bill requires the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to ensure that errors in demand estimates do not result in material over- or under-collection of revenues for water corporations, similar to existing regulations for electrical corporations. It specifically allows water corporations with over 10,000 service connections to implement a "decoupling mechanism" that separates their revenues from water sales, which helps remove financial disincentives for promoting water conservation. The bill recognizes California's ongoing drought challenges and aims to encourage water conservation by allowing utilities to establish rate designs and mechanisms that do not penalize them financially when customers use less water. Additionally, the bill requires that any changes to water service rates or surcharges cannot result in revenues exceeding those previously approved by the commission. The legislation is part of a broader effort to address water supply reliability in the context of climate change and frequent drought conditions, and it seeks to create financial frameworks that support, rather than discourage, water conservation efforts.

IVSaltonSeaConference.com

isolis — 2025-05-09 05:12:33 UTC

https://ivsaltonseaconference.com/

Litigation

isolis — 2025-05-29 15:42:31 UTC

https://us-east-2.protection.sophos.com/?d=desertsun.com&u=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVzZXJ0c3VuLmNvbS9zdG9yeS9uZXdzL2Vudmlyb25tZW50LzIwMjUvMDUvMjgvbGl0aGl1bS12YWxsZXktbm9ucHJvZml0LXNvdWdodC1taWxsaW9ucy1haGVhZC1vZi1sYXdzdWl0LXN0YWxsaW5nLXByb2plY3QvODMyMzI4NDYwMDcv&i=NjE3MWU0MjRjYjFkYWUwZTY2NGFlOTRj&t=b1ovdi9pcmlQTi8wVER1cEpEM1JSQWxWWnVsMld3Q3NHWDEvRkxYVGZiUT0=&h=c071da2eee8944c6a50fd76e2327041f&s=AVNPUEhUT0NFTkNSWVBUSVZFryW27H2_2Krv-fiwwPa4iUDd_SPCbOcwxUlmPA1fXA

SB707 Open meetings: meeting and teleconference requirements.

isolis — 2025-06-19 21:38:37 UTC

https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202520260sb707

AB2163 Energy: Strategic Clean Energy and Critical Mineral Development Zones

isolis — 2026-06-24 17:07:13 UTC

CA Assembly Bill 2163, authored by Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez, establishes "Strategic Clean Energy and Critical Mineral Development Zones" in California. It requires the California Energy Commission to designate and update these zones (including Lithium Valley) to streamline infrastructure development, site readiness, and clean-tech investment.

https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB2163/id/3399840

AB928 Rooster Restrictions - Chris Rogers

isolis — 2026-06-24 17:26:47 UTC

The bill prohibits keeping or raising more than 25 roosters that are movement-constrained (meaning they are kept in an enclosure or tethered)

https://legiscan.com/CA/bill/AB928/2025