AB 1911 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Advertising: environmental marketing claims: carbon credits.

Summary

Under existing law, it is unlawful for a person to make an untruthful, deceptive, or misleading environmental marketing claim, whether explicit or implied. A violation of this requirement is a misdemeanor. This bill would, until January 1, 2032, establish a presumption in any suit or complaint brought under the above-described provision that a defendant's environmental marketing claim is valid if the defendant complies with specified disclosure requirements pertaining to voluntary carbon offsets and net zero emissions claims and the claim is based on the voluntary use of a carbon credit issued by a carbon crediting program that is (1) approved by the State Air Resources Board pursuant to specified regulations, (2) approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization to supply credits for a specified carbon offsetting scheme, or (3) meets other specified criteria and appears on a list published by the State Air Resources Board containing carbon crediting programs that satisfy those criteria.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2026 Last action May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

04/15/26 - Amended Assembly → AB1911 · 1 edit

MINOR

The substantive content of AB 1911 is unchanged between these two versions. The differences are entirely technical and presentational: the old version is a printed-style legislative document with line numbers and page headers, while the new version is a web page rendering with navigation elements, search boxes, and a different layout. No policy language was added, removed, or modified.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was re-rendered from a printed legislative document format (with line numbers, page headers/footers, and column layout) to a web page format (with navigation menus, search tools, and single-column layout). No substantive policy language changed.

02/12/26 - Introduced → 04/15/26 - Amended Assembly · 6 edits · Apr 15, 2026

MODERATE

The amendment transforms the bill from a simple defense provision into a presumption of validity for environmental marketing claims based on carbon credits, adds a requirement to comply with existing disclosure rules for voluntary carbon offsets and net zero claims, inserts a five-year sunset (repeal on January 1, 2032), extends the deadline for the Air Resources Board to publish its list of qualifying programs from an unspecified number of days after January 1, 2027 to a fixed date of January 1, 2028, and adds a new prohibition preventing third-party verification bodies from holding positions in carbon credit markets.

REQUIREMENT

The legal effect changed from a 'defense' (which the defendant must raise) to a 'presumption of validity' (which shifts the burden to the plaintiff to rebut). This makes it significantly harder for plaintiffs to succeed in challenging environmental marketing claims that meet the bill's criteria.

A new condition was added: the defendant must also comply with Part 10 (commencing with Section 44475) of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code, which governs disclosure requirements for voluntary carbon offsets and net zero emissions claims. The presumption only applies if both this compliance and the carbon credit program criteria are met.

A new conflict-of-interest prohibition was added for third-party credit validation and verification bodies: they shall not buy or sell carbon credits or otherwise have a position in carbon credit markets. This prevents entities that verify carbon credits from also profiting from them.

TIMELINE

A sunset provision (new subdivision (e)) was added: the entire section expires and is repealed on January 1, 2032, making this a temporary measure with a five-year lifespan.

The deadline for the State Air Resources Board to publish and maintain its list of qualifying carbon crediting programs changed from 'within ____ days of January 1, 2027' (blank to be filled) to a fixed date of 'on or before January 1, 2028,' giving the board an additional year.

TECHNICAL

Language in subdivision (d) was revised from imperative form ('Be accredited,' 'Be competent,' 'Have policies') to declarative form ('It shall be accredited,' 'It shall be competent,' 'It shall have policies'), clarifying that these are binding requirements rather than instructions.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Held under submission.

lower

May 6, 2026

Committee

In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

lower

Apr 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Introduced

From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 13).

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and JUD.

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors