SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) released the following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s sign and veto decisions.
Statement from Shannon Olivieri Hovis, Chief Strategy Officer, California Environmental Voters:
“California showed it can stand up for its values and push back against a federal administration determined to gut our progress on climate, health, and affordability. When corporate interests tried to pass costs onto families, our legislators drew a line. And when those bills reached the Governor’s desk, he signed them. Defending our democracy, putting guardrails around data centers and utilities, protecting our right to clean air, and standing up to Trump’s agenda to keep us hooked on fossil fuels is exactly what meeting this moment looks like. There’s still work ahead, particularly to reduce plastic pollution, protect families from dangerous industrial projects, and ensure they can afford basic necessities like safe water, but California has a strong foundation to build on. We look forward to working with California’s next Governor to build on the progress made this year and take on the fights that were left unfinished.”
Bills Signed Into Law
Budget Package
- SB 193 (Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Allocations): Protects funding for neighborhood projects like transit, affordable housing, clean air, safe drinking water, and resilient landscapes and communities.
Lowering Costs and Corporate Accountability
- SB 886 (Padilla): Protects ratepayers from data center costs while supporting clean energy and responsible growth.
- SB 905 (Becker): Lowers electricity costs by reducing unnecessary utility spending.
- SB 1098 (Pérez): Requires utilities to justify major spending before charging it to customers.
- SB 1301 (Allen): Requires homeowners’ insurance companies to provide earlier notice and clearer explanations when they plan to nonrenew, cancel, or reduce coverage.
- AB 1661 (Bryan): Directs oil penalty funds to community members within the vicinity of the Inglewood Oil Field who have a child with a respiratory health condition.
- AB 2383 (Zbur): Ensures data centers pay their fair share of grid costs while supporting clean energy usage.
Health, Safety & Clean Air
- SB 1213 (Reyes): Improves price transparency for our zero-emission vehicles incentives to combat price gouging.
- SB 1359 (Stern): Requires utilities to consider clean alternatives before investing in new gas infrastructure.
- AB 40 (Bonta): Requires environmental review for large-scale coal projects that could threaten California communities and air quality.
- AB 1448 (Hart): Protects California’s coast and communities by limiting offshore oil and gas development.
- AB 2313 (Berman): Gives homeowners the option and financial incentive to go electric instead of replacing gas lines.
Safe and Equitable Water Access
- SB 1085 (Durazo): Requires water-supply assessments before approving major new housing developments.
- AB 2469 (Papan): Requires new data center projects in California to disclose projected water use and evaluate local water supplies before receiving local approval.
Democracy
- SB 1164 (Cervantes): Protects against voter suppression and discrimination and strengthens enforcement of voting rights.
- SB 1360 (Cervantes): Guaranteed translated ballots and election materials for voters with limited English proficiency.
Vetoed Bills & Losses
Lowering Costs and Corporate Accountability
- SB 878 (Pérez): Would have strengthened California’s insurance system, so families can start recovering sooner.
- SB 954 (Blakespear): Would have closed a loophole that has weakened community safeguards for highly polluting industrial projects.
- AB 1813 (Ward): Would have expanded affordable community solar and energy storage options to renters and apartment residents.
- AB 2253 (Boerner): Would have banned misleading recycled-content claims on packaging.
Health, Safety & Clean Air
- OPPOSE, Signed into law – SB 1392 (Cortese): Will increase air pollution by weakening protections for older cars.
Safe and Equitable Water Access
- SB 1125 (Menjivar): Would have created a statewide water-bill assistance program for low-income Californians.
- AB 2218 (Kalra): Would have required state water agencies to acknowledge inequities against California Native American tribes.
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ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. See more press releases.