2025 Legislative Priorities
California’s legislators need to take bold action on climate. It’s our responsibility to push the partnership, agency, and shared vision we need to make big breakthroughs—especially in the face of the Trump Administration and his Big Oil ties.
Our Sponsored Bills
Affordable Insurance and Climate Recovery Act (SB 222 - Wiener)
Failed to pass the Senate Judiciary Committee
Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act (SB 684 - Menjivar and AB 1243 - Addis)
Currently in the Senate and Assembly Judiciary Committees
Bills By Issue Area
Scaling Up Clean Energy
Corporate greed and climate change impacts are making California energy costs skyrocket. We need policies that accelerate our transition to abundant clean energy, tackle the root causes of rising bills, and make California energy cleaner and more accessible for all.
Local Electrification Planning Act (AB 39 - Zbur)
Requires cities and counties with more than 75,000 people to plan for electrification, including installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and electric appliances.
Transmission Financing (SB 330 - Padilla)
Allows pilot projects to develop and operate lower-cost electrical transmission infrastructure, aiming to reduce ratepayer costs and support upgrades to electricity transmission lines.
West-Wide Electricity Markets (SB 540 - Becker)
Improves California’s electricity grid by connecting us to the West Coast market to provide cost savings, enhanced grid reliability, and reduced air pollution.
Clean Energy Load Shifting Solutions (SB 541 - Becker)
Directs the Energy Commission and Utilities Commission to improve the amount and timing of energy use to keep electricity affordable, efficient, safe, and clean.
Affordability
California is facing an affordability crisis made worse by the climate crisis. Individuals shouldn’t have to pay for polluter-caused climate impacts through rising utility bills—which is why we need legislation that brings down costs for Californians.
Electricity Affordability through Virtual Power Plants (AB 740 - Harabedian)
Directs the state to plan for scaling Virtual Power Plants—networks of smart, clean energy devices that lower bills, boost grid reliability, and support the transition to clean energy.
California Ratepayer Protection Act (AB 1167 - Berman)
Prevents utility companies from spending ratepayers’ money on political lobbying and promotional advertising.
Protecting Ratepayers from Utility Abuses (SB 24 - McNerney)
Prevents investor-owned utilities from using ratepayer’s money to lobby against the creation of publicly-owned utilities, helping lower utility bills and supporting affordable public power.
PUC Performance Based Incentives (SB 500 - Stern)
Incentivizes utilities companies to save customers money by rewarding them for cost-saving measures that in return lowers ratepayers’ energy bills.
Clean and Protected Water
Water is under threat from pollution, outdated water laws, and a warmer climate. We need to prioritize sustainable water management, safe drinking water, and the protection of water resources through nature-based solutions.
Scott and Shasta River Instream Flows (AB 263 - Rogers)
Protects salmon, a keystone species in California, through an extension of emergency minimum stream flow standards on the Scott and Shasta Riverways.
The Right to Clean Water Act (SB 601 - Allen)
Protects California from rollbacks on federal clean water protections by enshrining the decades-old Clean Water Act waterway protections into state law.
Keep PFAS out of California Drinking Water (AB 794 - Gabriel)
Failed to move through Assembly Floor
Directs the State Water Board to adopt regulations that keep costly and harmful forever chemicals, or ‘PFAS’, out of our drinking water.
Reducing Pollution and Toxic Waste
California is currently facing federal rollbacks and threats to our strong clean air and environmental protection standards. The state legislation we are supporting ensures that we protect public health and our clean air standards.
Protecting Against Expanded Offshore Oil Drilling (AB 1448 - Hart)
Strengthens California’s offshore oil drilling regulations by banning new construction on federal leases, expanding oversight for oil transport and idle drilling sites, and requiring a two-thirds vote to alter existing agreements.
Oil Spill Prevention and Pipeline Testing (SB 542 - Limon)
Requires advanced testing and safety measures in order to reopen any offshore oil pipeline that’s been closed for five or more years.
Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling (SB 615 - Allen)
Oversees electric vehicle batteries through every stage of their lifespan, including repair, repurposing, and recycling.
Banning PFAS in Non-Essential Uses (SB 682 - Allen)
Minimizes the use of forever chemicals , or “PFAS,” by industry and manufacturers to reduce the water filtration and treatment burden on local governments and water agencies.
Conservation and 30x30
EnviroVoters is committed to protecting California’s natural landscapes by advancing policies that safeguard biodiversity, access to nature, and climate resilience. As part of the 30×30 initiative to conserve 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030, EnviroVoters is also fighting back against Trump’s plans to sacrifice our state’s natural resources.
California Migratory Bird Protection Act (AB 454 - Kalra)
Reaffirms California’s authority to protect migratory birds, even if federal protections are weakened.
Planning for the Durable Stewardship of California’s 30x30 Land (AB 900 - Papan)
Increases support and funding for science-based management and stewardship of conserved natural lands.
Protecting the Endangered Species Act (AB 1319 - Schultz)
Bans the transport, sale, or possession of any species considered endangered as of January 19, 2025 to protect against weakened federal wildlife protections during the Trump Administration.
Corporate Accountability
A healthy, fair democracy and climate justice go hand in hand. Climate progress in California relies on more than elected officials and grassroots advocates—it also requires reliable commitments and accountability from corporate leadership.
Landfill Safety Act (AB 28 - Schiavo)
Requires landfill operators to proactively monitor and respond to dangerous underground heat levels to prevent public health emergencies.
Reducing Microplastics by Banning Plastic Beads & Glitter in Personal Care Products (AB 823 - Boerner)
Prohibits the sale and distribution of no-rinse personal care and cleaning products that contain plastic glitter or microbeads.
Safeguarding the Right to Organize (AB 288 - McKinnor)
Protects California workers’ right to organize and bargain collectively from federal rollbacks.
Utility Accountability Act (AB 1020 - Schiavo)
Requires transparency from investor-owned utilities on outside funding (like state and federal grants) and spending plans to keep utility rates fair for ratepayers.
Ending the Statewide Ban on Public Financing of Elections (SB 42 - Umberg)
Adds an initiative to the 2026 ballot to end the statewide ban on public financing of elections, reducing the influence of undisclosed ‘dark money’ on elections.
Opposition Bills
EnviroVoters opposes bills that undermine critical climate policies and priorities, directly threatening our mission to protect public health, advance environmental justice, and hold polluters accountable.
Undermining South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Port Rule (SB 34 - Richardson)
This bill would block a key local clean air rule for ports, shifting authority to the state, increasing costs, weakening air protections, and undermining efforts to meet air quality standards.
Undermining Advanced Clean Fleets (SB 496 - Hurtado)
Died in Senate Appropriations
This bill would have created a burdensome review process for exemptions to the Advanced Clean Fleets program, which already allows for flexibility where needed. Adding more carve-outs is unnecessary and would weaken the program’s clean air and public health benefits.
Two-Year Bills
These bills carry over to the second year of the session to give lawmakers more time to refine and build support—providing an important window for EnviroVoters to influence policy and advance climate justice.
Hardship Deferments for Energy Service (SB 636 - Menjivar)
Stops utilities from shutting off power for low-income customers facing hardships like job loss, household deaths, medical issues, or natural disasters. After a six-month deferment, any unpaid bills would be moved into the utility’s debt relief program.
Tribal Beneficial Use of Water (AB 362 - Ramos)
Incorporates Tribal Beneficial Uses (TBUs) into water quality laws to recognize and protect tribal water uses while consulting tribal communities in water quality planning.
Huron Hawk Conservancy (AB 721 - Soria)
Establishes the Huron Hawk Conservancy to support ecological and recreational projects, provide equitable public health benefits, and create sustainable job opportunities in the Central Valley.
Codifying Nature Based Solutions in State Climate Policy (AB 491 - Connolly)
Works science-based targets for nature-based climate solutions into California’s statewide emissions reduction plan.
Pollution Hotspots Solution Act (AB 914 - Garcia)
Equips California with the full authority to regulate and clean up our own air pollution from hotspots like ports and warehouses.
Climate and Sustainability Insurance and Risk Reduction Program (AB 1236 - C. Rodriguez)
Establishes a new grant program to study innovative approaches to insurance that build economic resilience in areas vulnerable to climate impacts.
Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program (SB 350 - Durazo)
Establishes a first-in-the-nation Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program to bring down costs and ensure that all Californians can access both drinking water and wastewater services regardless of income.
Expanding the Clean Cars for All Program (AB 674 - Connolly)
Expands the Clean Cars 4 All program—that helps draw down vehicle emissions in pollution hot spots—into a statewide program, requiring specific vehicle data collection, and increasing financial incentives for the most cost burdened drivers.
What We Do
California Environmental Voters is focused on building the political power to solve the climate crisis, advancing justice, and creating a roadmap for global action. We are California’s voice, statewide and nationally, for bold climate action. We elect and cultivate environmental champions, turn election victories into policy wins, hold our lawmakers accountable, and build political power to transform our political system and achieve climate justice. Learn more about what we do.
