Energy & Environment

Extends Reclamation District No. 108's authority to generate and sell hydroelectric power indefinitely. Requires the district to submit a detailed operational and financial report to legislative committees by 2036. Restricts power sales to public utilities and agencies only, prohibiting direct sales to other customers. Mandates that electricity sale proceeds must first pay off construction costs before other district purposes.

Requires Public Utilities commissioners to attend 25% of ratesetting hearings to receive their salaries. Extends funding for deaf and disabled telecommunications programs through 2031 via surcharges. Continues transportation network companies' accessibility programs and fees through 2032. Mandates commissioners to appear at legislative hearings when requested by committee chairs.

Expands the California Wildfire Mitigation Program Board to include the Department of Insurance by July 2026. Requires state agencies to jointly manage programs for fire-resistant building upgrades and vegetation management. Delegates wildfire mitigation program responsibilities to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Makes technical changes to update place names, redefine water year dates, and remove obsolete provisions.

Requires the State Lands Commission to publish ballast water management data online starting April 2026. Changes vessel ballast water reporting from every two years to every three years. Mandates semiannual online updates of vessel compliance rates and water discharge data. Expands reporting requirements to include detailed vessel arrival and treatment information.

Establishes a new grant program to help local and tribal communities participate in offshore wind development. Requires offshore wind developers to provide 4 years of financial support for community engagement activities. Creates a dedicated funding account for community grants with public oversight and reporting requirements. Mandates equitable distribution of funds based on community needs and regular program evaluation.

Establishes new rules to promote alternative fuels for ocean-going vessels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Automatically approves alternative fuels that have lower carbon intensity than traditional marine diesel oil. Allows vessels to use pilot fuels when necessary to facilitate alternative fuel operation. Supports California's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

Requires cities and counties to develop comprehensive wildfire retrofit strategies by January 2026. Mandates local governments to identify and inventory structures needing fire safety upgrades in high-risk areas. Establishes a state clearinghouse of wildfire safety best practices and local policies by January 2027. Requires regular updates to land use plans to protect communities in very high fire risk zones.

Expands the Clean Transportation Program to fund projects preventing vandalism of public EV charging stations. Requires grant recipients to report operational data on charging station availability and usage quarterly. Prioritizes funding for projects that advance zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and combat charging cable theft.

Requires utilities to recover costs of biomethane infrastructure investments through customer rates by June 2026. Expands eligibility criteria for biomethane projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Simplifies pipeline delivery requirements for biomethane to qualify for procurement programs. Mandates prevailing wages for workers on qualifying biomethane displacement projects.

Establishes a fixed 10% financial return rate for recycling centers processing beverage containers. Requires beverage manufacturers to pay processing fees based on container recycling rates. Extends processing fees to wine and spirits containers like boxes and pouches through January 2026.

Requires metal shredding facilities to implement air quality monitoring systems at their fence lines by 2027. Mandates facility owners to reimburse districts for all regulatory enforcement costs. Establishes public notification requirements when air pollution exceeds health safety thresholds. Allows districts to keep existing metal shredding regulations if implemented before January 2026.

Makes technical changes to existing plastic pollution prevention and producer responsibility requirements.

Extends California's wildfire defense programs indefinitely beyond their 2026 expiration date. Requires fire inspectors to complete specialized training in home ignition zone assessments. Establishes a data reporting system to track defensible space compliance across jurisdictions. Creates a volunteer program to help homeowners meet fire safety requirements.

Establishes a five-year pilot program in El Dorado County allowing trained houndspersons to haze threatening mountain lions. Requires permitted houndspersons to purchase annual hazing permits and register with Fish and Wildlife by 2027. Mandates a comprehensive report by 2033 evaluating the program's effectiveness in reducing public safety threats. Limits the program to El Dorado County due to increased mountain lion attacks and livestock depredation.

Exempts collector vehicles at least 35 years old from all smog check requirements. Eliminates existing partial smog check exemptions for collector vehicles. Adds an $8 fee for transferring ownership of vehicles four years old or newer. Names the legislation Leno's Law.

Makes technical changes to update geological hazard assessment and monitoring procedures.

Prohibits utilities from charging ratepayers for political activities and promotional advertising expenses. Requires utilities to clearly disclose whether shareholders or ratepayers are funding their advertising. Mandates annual public reporting of political and promotional spending starting April 2026. Establishes penalties up to $10,000 per violation for utilities that improperly charge ratepayers.

Requires creation of ember-resistant zones within 5 feet of buildings in high-fire-risk areas. Mandates emergency regulations for immediate implementation of new fire safety requirements. Authorizes the State Board of Forestry to maintain emergency regulations until officially revised. Integrates new fire safety rules with state environmental protection requirements.

Establishes a state task force to develop California's clean energy manufacturing and supply chains by 2026. Creates a senior counselor position to coordinate clean energy industry development and job creation. Requires detailed implementation plans for offshore wind, electric vehicles, and building electrification. Establishes a new state fund to support clean energy supply chain and workforce development programs.

Makes technical changes to renewable energy facility eligibility requirements by adjusting the commercial operation date.

Establishes new state programs to help industrial facilities reduce emissions and improve energy storage. Requires funded projects to create high-road jobs and include community benefit agreements. Prioritizes projects in under-resourced communities that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases. Expands the state infrastructure bank's ability to finance industrial heat pump and thermal storage projects.

Establishes a producer responsibility program requiring companies to manage collection of waste oil and lubricants by 2028. Creates a producer organization to implement statewide collection systems at no cost to residents. Requires producers to fund program costs and reimburse local governments for illegal dumping cleanup. Authorizes penalties up to $50,000 per day for companies that violate program requirements.

Extends the property tax exclusion indefinitely for customer-sited solar energy systems starting in 2026. Excludes solar pool heaters while covering systems for electricity, water heating, and space conditioning. Requires initial purchasers to file claims with assessors to receive the tax benefit. Maintains the tax exclusion until a property changes ownership.

Expands the California Renewables Portfolio Standard to include all hydroelectric facilities regardless of size. Requires utilities to procure 60% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Establishes a tracking system to verify renewable energy credits and prevent double counting. Authorizes penalties for utilities that fail to meet renewable procurement requirements.