Methane emissions: petroleum and natural gas producing low methane emissions.

A 'Digest Key' metadata block was added showing: Vote: MAJORITY, Appropriation: NO, Fiscal Committee: YES, Local Program: NO. This is administrative classification information, not a policy change.

The bill text was reformatted from a traditional legislative document layout (with page numbers, line breaks, and column formatting) to a web page display format with navigation menus, search tools, and status panels. No words in the operative sections (Section 1 findings or Section 2 amendment to HSC 38592) were changed.

Narrowed the procurement encouragement in Section 38592(e) from 'petroleum and natural gas' to only 'natural gas,' meaning state procurement incentives for low-methane certification no longer apply to petroleum products.

Narrowed the data reporting requirement in Section 39607(b)(3)(B) from 'petroleum and natural gas' to only 'natural gas,' so utilities and large gas users would only need to report on certified low-methane natural gas contracts, not petroleum.

Changed Section 38592(c) from a mandatory requirement ('shall timely consider programs, or changes to existing programs') to a permissive authorization ('may assess existing programs'), significantly reducing the obligation on ARB, PUC, and other agencies to develop new methane reduction programs.

Added new language in Section 38592(c) authorizing agencies to 'use all relevant sources and standards, including, but not limited to, emissions data, models, or protocols from existing or new regulations,' giving them broader discretion in how they assess methane reduction programs.

Added a constraint in Section 38592(c) requiring that program assessments be conducted 'in accordance with Sections 38500 to 38599, inclusive' of the Health and Safety Code, tying the new authority to existing air quality statutory framework.

Delayed the start date for annual quantification and publication of potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2027 in Section 39607(b)(3)(C), giving agencies an additional year before this reporting obligation begins.

Updated the ARB report reference in the legislative findings from '2018-20' to '2018-22,' reflecting a more recent edition of the out-of-state methane emissions estimate.

In Section 38592(d), the phrase 'may assess apply approved MMRV protocols' was changed to 'may apply approved MMRV protocols,' removing the explicit 'assess' authority. This slightly narrows what agencies can do with MMRV protocols - they may now only apply them rather than also formally assess them, though applying a protocol inherently involves some evaluation.

Coauthor credit for Assembly Member Zbur was removed from the bill header, along with all prior amendment dates (Senate April 29 and May 23, 2025; Assembly June 30, 2025).

Enrolled-bill elements were added: Senate passage date (September 13, 2025), Assembly passage date (September 12, 2025), and a Governor approval signature block.

All amendments to Health and Safety Code Section 39607 are removed. This eliminates requirements for the state board to annually quantify and publish imported natural gas methane emissions, request information from utilities about certified low-methane gas contracts, and estimate potential greenhouse gas reductions from certified supplies starting January 1, 2027.

Assembly Member Zbur is added as a co-author, indicating cross-chamber sponsorship.

The requirement for the state board to establish a certification standard for petroleum and natural gas producing low methane emissions by December 31, 2026 is removed entirely.

A new definition of 'measure, monitor, report, and verify' (MMRV) is added to Section 38592, defining it as a framework for systematic measuring of emissions including documentation and verification of reported data accuracy.

The obligation on state agencies shifts from 'shall timely consider programs, or changes to existing programs' to 'may assess existing programs' and 'apply approved MMRV protocols.' This changes the duty from a mandatory consideration of new programs to a permissive assessment and application of existing protocols.

A new legislative intent (Section 1(c)) requires state agencies to follow a loading order for natural gas use: first efficiency and demand reduction measures, then renewable resources, then clean fossil resources certified to have low methane emissions via approved MMRV protocols.

The requirement for the state board to encourage natural gas procurement to shift to certified low-methane gas now includes the qualifier 'as verified by MMRV,' tying the certification concept to the new MMRV framework rather than a standalone certification standard.