The California State Legislature has adjourned after passing several bills that are now on their way to the governor for signature. While Almond Board of California cannot take a position for or against specific bills, we do monitor legislation to determine the impact on the California Almond industry. Through the Almond Alliance of California, positions can be taken to benefit the industry. Impacts of some of these bills include:
SB 32 (Pavley, D-Agoura Hills), which establishes a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Establishing this target by law will remove any uncertainty over the state’s authority to extend its climate policies beyond the 2020 emissions-reduction target set by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
This bill is legally joined to AB 197 (Garcia, D-Coachella), which directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to prioritize regulations to protect disadvantaged communities by focusing on reducing direct emissions at stationary and mobile sources. It also adds a definition for the social costs of greenhouse gas emissions for the CARB to include in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of measures developed to achieve reductions. Having the two bills joined requires both bills be enacted for either to take effect. The governor is expected to sign both into law.
