State Policy Positions

AB 802:

Microfiber pollution results from the washing of clothes/fiber materials, and currently constitutes roughly 35% of primary plastic found in the world’s oceans. Introduced by Assemblymember Bloom, AB 802 aims to reduce the amount of microfiber pollution released by industrial and commercial facilities by identifying the best available control technologies for filtering microfibers and requiring said facilities to adopt these standards. 

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AB 802 would:

• Require the state board to identify the best available microfiber control technology through coordination with universities, scientific organizations, and experts 

• Require the state board to consult with owners of laundry facilities on types of filtration systems currently in use 

• Require industrial, commercial, and laundry facilities to adopt the use of best available control technologies as identified by the state 

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On February 1, 2022, AB 802 was referred back to its house of origin: Asm Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials. 

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AB 1919:

Introduced by Assemblymember Chris Holden (AD-41), AB 1919 offers a California Youth Transit Pass, a fare-free transit pass for youth 25 years or younger with California residency.

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AB 1919 would:

• Offer a  fare-free transit pass for youth 25 years or younger with California residency.

•  Begin extensive data collection to track the progress of the program.

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AB 1919’s hearing to pass the Assembly of Transportation is set for 4/4/22. As a youth organization, we are especially affected by the passing of this bill. We support AB 1919 and we urge legislators to support amendments or future legislation to turn the pilot program into a full time program if successful after the five year run time.

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AB 1979:

18 million acres of forest are deforested every year, leading to reduced carbon sequestration and increased rate of species extinction. Introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), AB 1979 prohibits the use of materials that are sourced from tropically deforested regions by contractors on upcoming public works projects.

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AB 1979 would:

• ban state contractors starting in 2025 from using products sourced from tropically deforested areas later than 2023.

• impose sanctions and makes a person guilty of a false misdemeanor for knowingly certifying that a material was responsibly sourced when it was not in reality.

• exempts credit card purchases of $2500 or less 

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Introduced earlier this year, AB 1979 will be first heard in the Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review on the twenty seventh of April.

 

AB 2026

2.9 billion pounds of plastic packaging was used by the e-commerce industry in 2020, leading to pollution in both oceans and the land. Introduced by Assemblymembers Laura Friedman and Phil Ting, AB 2026 would reinstate a program for consumers to recycle their plastic bags in supermarkets and ban forms of single use plastic for online businesses.

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AB 2026 would:

• create the At-Store Recycling Program for consumers to bring in plastic bags to be recycled until 2031.

• ban single use plastic packaging for small online businesses by 2024, and large ones by 2026. Violations can reach $5000 for small businesses and $50,000 for large businesses.

• ban Styrofoam for packaging in retail and distribution.

• exempt packaging used for fresh produce and meat.

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Introduced earlier this year, AB 2026 passed its first hearing in Assembly Natural Resources in late March, and passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee in early April. It is being re-referred to Appropriations Committee.

 

AB 2108

Introduced by assembly members Robert Rivas and Cristina Garcia, AB 2108 requires that the State Water Board and the Regional Boards both ensure that at least one member of each board has experience to represent environmental justice and tribal communities. Additionally, it requires the State Water Board when issuing significant waste discharge requirements to also include analysis of environmental justice impacts or racial equity concerns.

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AB 2108 would:

• Require one of the members of the state water board to be qualified in water quality relating to disadvantaged communities

• Require both the State and the Regional Water Boards to engage in community outreach to disadvantaged or underrepresented communities

• Requires the State Water Board to fund two separate environmental justice and tribal community coordinator positions

• Requires State Water board to use available tools to identify and prioritize enforcement in areas disproportionately affected by environmental pollution

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Introduced earlier this year on February 14, 2022. Was last amended on March 15, 2022.

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AB 2593:

Coastal wetlands capture carbon at a greater rate than tropical forests and store 3-5 times more carbon per area than said forests. Introduced by Assembly Member Boerner Horvath, AB 2593 recognizes the importance of coastal vegetation in the storage of carbon by requiring the California Coastal Commission to require a public project applicant seeking a coastal development permit to contribute to a blue carbon project.

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AB 2593 would:

• Require the California Coastal Commission to require a public project applicant seeking a coastal development permit to build/contribute to a blue carbon project

• Existing state grant programs may be used to fund and give funding priority to blue carbon projects

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Introduced earlier this year, AB 2593 has its next hearing on the fourth of April in the Natural Resources Committee. Although we support the goals listed in AB 2593, we believe that there must be a designated timeline and outline of its requirements. A description of what qualifies as a Blue Carbon Project must be included and the exceptions must be listed. Once these amendments are made, BAYLI hopes to reevaluate and support AB 2593. 

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AB 2805:

Under the existing laws established in the Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Natural Resources Agency, fish, wildlife, habitats and any relating populations are being monitored and protected. Existing laws allow for advancements regarding the conservation of certain species (which means the laws also extend towards approving authorization of investment strategies to support conservation methods). This bill would give the department or agency the opportunity to propose a conservation investment strategy. This bill would also require certain provisions to be met before approving and executing the investment strategy. 

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AB 2805 would require:

• Regional investment strategy (must include mitigation credit, include framework gor adaptive management, and monitor the concerned habitat)

• The majority approval from the general public (through holding public meetings) is necessary before advancing the conservation strategy

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The bill was introduced by Assembly member Bauer-Kahan in mid February.

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SB 917:

Introduced by State Senator Josh Becker, Senate Bill 917 would require Metropolitan Transportation Commission to create a “Connected Network Plan” for the Bay Area. It would force the Commission to revolutionize the current public transportation system including fares, routes, vehicles, and maintenance.

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SB 917 would:

• Require the development of a “Connected Network Plan” to revolutionize the current public transportation systems in the Bay Area.

• Withholds funds from regional transportation agencies that do not comply with the new integrated systems

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Introduced by Senator Becker earlier this year, SB 917 has been referred to the Senate Transportation Committee and awaits its hearing on the twenty-sixth of April. 

 

SB 1215

Introduced by Senator Josh Newman (D- Orange County), SB 1215 aims to create a program requiring producers to establish a stewardship program for the collection and recycling of covered batteries and covered battery embedded products. 

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SB 1215 would: 

• Require producers, individually or through stewardship organizations, to create a program for the collection and recycling of covered batteries and covered battery embedded products

• Require an annual audit and the necessary records of the stewardship organization or producer to determine compliance with the act

• Impose on any in violation of the act a penalty not to exceed $10,000, unless the violation is intentional or reckless, in which case the penalty is not to exceed $50,000

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SB 1215 awaits a first hearing in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on April 20th.