Existing law establishes the Agricultural Biomass Utilization Account in the Department of Food and Agricultural Fund, which is administered by the Department of Food and Agriculture, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, for purposes of providing grants to persons that use agricultural biomass as a means for avoiding landfill use, preventing air pollution, and enhancing environmental quality. This bill would require the Department of Conservation, on or before December 1, 2025, to establish and administer the Biomass Technology Transition Program to support the conversion of biomass generation facilities using traditional combustion technologies to newer advanced bioenergy technology facilities, as defined. The bill would require the Department of Conservation, on or before December 1, 2025, to identify generation facilities with a generation capacity of 10 megawatts or greater that use, or are in the process of recommissioning or redeveloping those facilities to use, forest biomass waste or agricultural biomass waste, as defined, and the operators of those facilities have demonstrated to the Department of Conservation their intent to convert the facilities to advanced bioenergy technology facilities. The bill would require the Department of Conservation to request the relevant local air pollution control district or air quality management district to provide information for each identified generation facility about best available control technologies, and other potential advanced emission control technologies applicable to the district, that would be required if the generation facility requests a permit, as provided. The bill would require the Department of Conservation, on or before January 1, 2030, to establish a grant program to support the conversion of the generation facilities identified pursuant to the above-described provisions to advanced bioenergy technology facilities and would require an operator of a generation facility, in order to receive a grant, to develop and submit to the Department of Conservation business plans meeting specified guidelines. The bill would prohibit actions taken by the Department of Conservation and by operators of generation facilities pursuant to the above-described provisions from being funded by ratepayers.
Sponsored bills
Existing law provides comprehensive regulation of ticket sellers and makes violations of those provisions a misdemeanor. Existing law imposes various refund requirements on a ticket seller, including a requirement to issue a refund upon request to a ticket purchaser for canceled, postponed, or rescheduled events. Existing law also imposes various disclosure requirements on a ticket seller, including a requirement to disclose to a purchaser the location of the seat represented by the ticket, as specified. This bill would revise and recast those provisions by expanding the definition of a ticket seller to include a primary contractor or platform, as defined, and would instead apply the refund requirement relating to the postponement or rescheduling of an event only to primary contractors. The bill would impose various disclosure requirements on ticket sellers relating to ticket price, including that the ticket seller would be prohibited from advertising, displaying, or offering a price for a ticket that does not include all fees or charges that must be paid in order to purchase the ticket other than taxes or fees imposed by a government on the transaction. The bill would prohibit the resale of tickets that were initially offered at no charge and that were knowingly obtained using software or services that circumvent controls or measures that ensure an equitable ticket buying process for event attendees, and would require a ticket seller to provide printed tickets for a cellular telephone-free event, as defined, at the same price that a mobile or electronic ticket is sold. By expanding the scope of existing provisions regulating ticket sellers and imposing new requirements on ticket sellers and primary contractors, the violation of which would be a crime, this bill would impose 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.
Existing law regulates public utilities, including electrical and gas corporations. The Public Advocate's Office of the Public Utilities Commission is established as an independent office within the Public Utilities Commission to represent and advocate on behalf of the interests of public utility customers and subscribers within the jurisdiction of the commission. This bill would request the office to establish, by January 1, 2026, a program to, upon request of the Legislature, analyze legislation that would establish a mandated requirement or program or otherwise affect electrical or gas ratepayers, as specified. The bill would request the office to develop and implement conflict-of-interest provisions that would prohibit a person from participating in an analysis for which the person knows or has reasons to know that the person has a financial interest. The bill would require the commission, on June 15 of each year, to assess an annual fee on all large electrical and gas corporations, as defined, to fund the projected costs incurred by the office in implementing the bill, not to exceed $2,000,000 annually, divided evenly among each large electrical and gas corporation, as specified, for deposit into the Energy Programs Benefit Fund, which would be established by the bill. The bill would continuously appropriate the moneys in the fund to the office to support the work of the office in providing analyses under the bill. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2030. This bill would include a change in state statute that would result in a taxpayer paying a higher tax within the meaning of Section 3 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, and thus would require for passage the approval of 23 of the membership of each house of the Legislature.
Existing law requires the Department of Food and Agriculture, headed by the Secretary of Food and Agriculture, to promote and protect the agricultural industry of the state. Existing law authorizes the department to expend in accordance with law all money that is made available for its use. This bill would find and declare that it is a primary goal of the state to prevent the introduction, and suppress the spread, of invasive species within its borders. The bill would require, in carrying out this goal, the department, in collaboration with relevant state agencies and stakeholders, to develop and implement strategies to detect, control, monitor, and eradicate invasive species to protect the state's agriculture, environment, and natural resources. The bill would require the department, in consultation with other relevant state agencies, to allocate funds, if available, to implement and enforce these provisions.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. The CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. The CEQA exempts certain projects from its requirements, including actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency. Existing law prohibits an electrical corporation from beginning the construction of a line, plant, or system, or extensions of those facilities without first having to obtain from the Public Utilities Commission a certificate that the present or future convenience and necessity require or will require the construction. Existing law specifies that the certificate is not required for the extension, expansion, upgrade, or other modification of existing electrical transmission facilities. This bill would, for electrical infrastructure projects, as defined, designate the commission as the lead agency for purposes of the CEQA, would require the commission to prescribe procedures for the preparation of the appropriate environmental review document for those projects, and would specify the manner in which the environmental review for those projects is to be conducted. The bill would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2035.
Maddy summaryThis California Assembly resolution encourages the U.S. Congress to pass legislation creating a National Infrastructure Bank to fund critical repairs and upgrades for roads, bridges, dams, and other public works. The bill cites reports from the American Society of Civil Engineers highlighting billions of dollars in investment gaps and poor conditions affecting California's transportation and water systems. It advocates for a financing model that uses existing federal debt rather than new taxes, aiming to stimulate the economy, create jobs, and prioritize projects in disadvantaged communities. The resolution formally requests that federal leaders adopt this approach to address the state's urgent infrastructure needs.
Maddy summaryThis California House Resolution condemns the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump and calls for an end to political violence. The measure highlights the event where Trump was wounded while speaking at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and notes that one attendee died and others were injured while trying to protect him. It urges the state to foster a political environment based on respectful discourse and nonviolence. The resolution is a formal statement of the Assembly's stance and does not create new laws or change existing policies.
This measure would recognize the importance of California Native American Day, celebrated this year on September 27, 2024, and the annual California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference, to the enhancement of awareness of California Indian culture.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Filipino American History Month to recognize the long-standing contributions of Filipinos to California and the United States. It directly affects state officials and the public by designating a specific month for commemoration and education. The resolution highlights historical milestones, including early Spanish-era interactions, the development of Filipino communities in cities like Stockton and San Francisco, and the significant roles Filipinos played in agriculture, shipbuilding, and military service during World War II. By formally acknowledging these events, the bill aims to promote awareness of Filipino American heritage within the state.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates November 22, 2024, as Kimchee Day in California to honor the traditional Korean dish and its cultural significance. It acknowledges the long history of kimchee, the contributions of Korean Americans, and the dish's recognized health benefits and growing popularity in the United States. The resolution directs the Assembly's Chief Clerk to send copies of the document to the author for distribution.