The Power of Participation event held at the CEC’s Environmental Hub on August 15, highlighted various environmental and climate bills currently making their way through the California Legislature.
Below is a list of the bills that are headed to a final vote in both chambers during the Floor Days of this legislative session. The bills that pass both chambers will be sent to Gov, Newsom at the end of August. The Governor must sign the bills by September 30.
Please phone or email your legislative representatives and urge them to vote YES on these bills, and also contact Governor Newsom to urge him to sign the bills into law.
Asking your family and friends who live in other districts in California to contact their representatives in support of these bills, is also a great way to help these bills get passed.
Contact Your Reps
To find your district representatives click here: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
In Santa Barbara County our representatives are:
The Bills
AB2236 (Bauer-Kahan) Solid waste: reusable grocery bags: standards: plastic film prohibition
- This bill would eliminate the exemption of thicker plastic film bags from the state’s single-use bag ban, provide eligibility requirements for bags distributed or sold in stores, and permit only recycled paper bags to be sold at the point-of-sale.
SB1053 (Blakespear) Solid waste: recycled paper bags: standards: carryout bag prohibition
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Eliminate plastic film carryout bags from grocery store distribution and increase the recycling of paper carryout bags. Reduce the proliferation of plastic pollution by eliminating the existing provision of law that allows plastic film carryout bags to be distributed as reusable bags under the state’s bag ban.
AB1889 (Friedman) Room to Roam Act
- According to Los Padres ForestWatch, “The Room to Roam Act, aims to protect California’s wildlife by encouraging local governments to include wildlife connectivity in their land use planning. This helps prevent habitat fragmentation caused by development, which threatens species like mountain lions and bears. While some local policies exist, this Act seeks statewide implementation to ensure comprehensive protection of wildlife corridors, benefiting the state’s biodiversity and providing long term protection for wildlife.”
AB2320 (Irwin) Wildlife Connectivity & Climate Adaptation Act
- According to Los Padres ForestWatch, “The Wildlife Connectivity and Climate Adaptation Act of 2024, would require the Natural Resources Agency to provide information to the legislature on the agency’s progress on protecting and creating critical wildlife corridors. It would also declare it the policy of the state to protect and restore critical wildlife habitat and prioritize the funding of key habitat connectivity projects through the Wildlife Conservation Board. Such projects may include construction of wildlife crossings to reduce vehicle collisions and removal of barriers that impede fish migration that is critical for species survival.
SB1304 (Limon) Protect drinking water from oil and gas contamination
- Mandates that the State Water Resources Control Board conduct an environmental assessment of proposed aquifer exemptions under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). It requires at least one public hearing during this assessment process.
AB1866 (Hart) Idle oil well clean-up
- Requires oil operators to develop a comprehensive plan to urgently plug the estimated 40,000 idle oil wells in California, and requires operators to prioritize wells that pose a threat to life, health, property or natural resources.
AB3233 (Addis) Protect the right of local governments to regulate and phase out oil and gas operations in their jurisdictions
To find out more about these bills, go to the legislative portal and enter the bill number: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/home.xhtml
Another good source of information on these bills, including which organizations support them, is Digital Democracy CalMatters. You can search by bill number here: https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills
Here is the handout prepared by one of the presenters, Michelle Sevilla, Communications Director for Assemblymember Steve Bennett:
