California State Senate Approves Historic Legislation and Funding to Protect the Environment

SACRAMENTO – The California Senate once again demonstrated its commitment to addressing climate change and protecting our environment by passing groundbreaking legislation that accelerates the state’s transition away from fossil fuels and safeguards our public lands. The Senate also approved significant investments in environmental protection through the 2018-19 budget.

“California is at the forefront of a global effort to halt climate change and preserve a healthy, livable environment for future generations,” Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins said. “With every step we take, we are improving the air we breathe and the water we drink.”

Specifically, the Senate highlighted the following bills that were sent to Governor Brown for his signature:

• SB 901 (Sen. Bill Dodd): Addresses ever-increasing devastation from wildfires by revamping our disaster response and preparedness protocols, building a new framework to strengthen our electrical grid and protecting ratepayers from bearing the brunt of the costs from unchecked blazes.

“Wildfires have become a regular feature in California, with every Senate district being touched by the consequences of a warming climate, in one way or another.” Senate Leader Atkins continued. “Addressing this issue was a top priority for the Senate, and I am proud of the work that was accomplished by my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly.”

• SB 100 (Sen. Kevin de León): Recognizing the existential threat of climate change, makes California the first major economy on Earth to commit to 100-percent clean energy by the year 2045.
   
• SB 834 (Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson): Prevents new offshore oil drilling to protect our precious coasts and the local economies and ecosystems that depend on them.
   
• SB 606 (Sen. Robert Hertzberg): Enacts the most aggressive and stringent water-efficiency and water-conservation measures in state history.
   
• SB 1013 (Sen. Ricardo Lara): Locks in climate-friendly technologies that prohibit the use of certain ozone-depleting substances and hydrofluorocarbons in refrigerants.
   
• SB 1263 and SB 1422 (Sen. Anthony Portantino): Directs the Ocean Protection Council to study the scale and risk of microplastic materials and microfibers on the marine environment and directs the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt requirements for testing and reporting on the amount of microplastics in drinking water.

In addition, this year’s budget included significant investments in our environment, such as:

• $1.24 billion from Prop. 68 general obligation bonds for state and local park improvements, ecosystem restoration and water action plans such as flood management.
   
• $1.4 billion in greenhouse gas reduction funds that support climate resiliency efforts and benefit disadvantaged communities. 
   
• $983 million to make sure our disaster survivors, local governments and emergency personnel have the recovery funds they need and deserve.
   
• $334.5 million to implement a program to accelerate sales of zero-emission vehicles.
   
• $93 million from Prop. 68 for grants to public water systems in disadvantaged communities for infrastructure improvements to meet safe and affordable drinking water standards.

“Every Senate district has now felt the consequences of a climate change in one way or another. We’re in uncharted territory, and all signs indicate we’ve only just begun to feel the harsh realities of a warming planet,” continued Atkins. “We still have so much work to do. So we celebrate our progress but vow to continue our work in January.”

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