SB 1161 California Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Administrative regulations: economic impact analysis and standardized regulatory impact assessments: State Air Resources Board.

Summary
Existing law designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for the preparation of the state implementation plan required by the federal Clean Air Act, and requires the state board to adopt standards, rules, and regulations that are consistent with the state goal of providing a decent home and suitable living environment for every Californian. Existing law, the Administrative Procedure Act, governs, among other things, the procedures for the adoption, amendment, or repeal of regulations by state agencies. Existing law requires a state agency proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal a regulation that is not a major regulation, as defined, to prepare an economic impact assessment, as provided. Existing law requires a state agency that is proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal a major regulation to prepare a standardized regulatory impact analysis, as provided. This bill would require the State Air Resources Board proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal a regulation to include in either the economic impact assessment, or the standardized regulatory impact assessment, a distributional analysis of the costs, benefits, and net impacts on personal income across income levels and an informative digest, as provided.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Last action May 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

02/18/26 - Introduced 04/09/26 - Amended Senate · 3 edits · Apr 9, 2026
MINOR
The Senate amendment to SB 1161 adds a new requirement that the State Air Resources Board include a distributional analysis of costs, benefits, and net impacts across specific income levels in its regulatory impact assessments, along with a plain-language informative digest for the general public. It also expands the list of coauthors. The core purpose remains the same: ensuring CARB regulations are evaluated for their impact on low- and middle-income households before taking effect.
REQUIREMENT

New requirement that CARB include a distributional analysis in either its economic impact assessment or standardized regulatory impact assessment, breaking down costs, benefits, and net impacts on personal income across five categories: below 138% of federal poverty level, below inflation-adjusted California median income, below $100,000 annually, above $100,000 annually, and individuals in disadvantaged communities.

New requirement for an informative digest at the beginning of the economic impact assessment, written so the general public can understand how the regulation affects different income levels and disadvantaged communities. The digest must include a summary of the distributional analysis and must consider the impact on energy, gas, and utility prices.

SCOPE

Coauthors expanded: Senators Dahle and Strickland added to Senate coauthors; Assembly Members Hadwick, Lackey, and Patterson added to Assembly coauthors, indicating broader legislative support for the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
3
Committee
2
Amendments
2
May 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
May 14 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
upper
Apr 8, 2026
Upper · Passed
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 3792.) (April 8).
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
Referred to Com. on E.Q.
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Introduced
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
upper
1 primary · 15 co-sponsors

Sponsors