General plans: Local Electrification Planning Act.

Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires a city or county to adopt a comprehensive general plan for the city's or county's physical development that includes various elements, including, among others, a land use element that designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land in specified categories, and a circulation element that identifies the location and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares, transportation routes, terminals, any military airports and ports, and other local public utilities and facilities, as specified. This bill, the Local Electrification Planning Act, would require a city, county, or city and county to prepare and adopt a specified plan, or otherwise integrate a plan into the general plan, that, among other things, identifies opportunities to expand electric vehicle charging to meet the needs of the city's, county's, or city and county's current and future visitors, residents, and businesses, and includes policies and implementation measures that address the needs of disadvantaged communities, low-income households, and small businesses for investments in zero-emission technologies that directly benefit these groups, as specified. The bill would require a city, county, or city and county to adopt a specified plan, or otherwise integrate the plan into the general plan, on or after January 1, 2026, but no later than January 1, 2029. The bill would deem a plan adopted pursuant to these provisions as a regional plan for specified purposes. The bill would require that the above-described provisions only apply to a city, county, or city and county with a population greater than 75,000 residents. Because the bill would increase the duties of local public officials, it would establish a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.