New Environmental Laws Signed by Governor Newsom

Every fall the California legislature dumps a slew of would-be laws on the governor’s desk, and then we all get to wait and see what he signs into law by the Oct. 1 deadline. Always included in that pile are new environmental laws.

This year’s menu was a lot lighter than last year’s big wins. With a looming budget deficit, funds for green initiatives largely dried up; many big proposals never even passed the legislature. Slower progress is still progress.

Waste

The most important new laws target waste. First, the decade-old plastic bag “ban” California passed had unintended consequences, as retailers sold sturdier plastic “reusable” bags to consumers for a dime each, but they were not usually reused. The result was more plastic bag trash (by weight) than before the “ban.” The new state law (SB 1063) will ban ALL plastic bags starting in 2026, and if you don’t bring your own bag, you can buy a recyclable, biodegradable paper sack for 10 cents. Reminder: Plastic recycling is a scam.

Clothing waste from cheap and cheesy “fast fashion” has begun to choke the planet, so California took some baby steps toward “extended producer responsibility” by passing a law (SB 707) that will require companies that make clothing, shoes, and other textiles to create a nonprofit organization by 2026 that will develop collection sites or other ways to recycle unwanted clothing by 2030. This could reduce the 1.2 million tons of clothing waste dumped in the state annually, despite most of it being reusable or recyclable.

In an effort to cut food waste, AB 660 bans inconsistent “sell by” labels on food in favor of a standardized system of “use by” labels. The current labeling scheme creates confusion and promotes waste.

Energy

California has a century-long history of oil production that has resulted in about 100,000 wells, including 40,000 that are inactive or abandoned. A trio of new laws help deal with the legacy. AB 1866 will require oil companies to plan better for capping idle wells. AB 2716 targets a specific oil field, the Inglewood field, surrounded by densely populated L.A. communities, mandating that the low-producing field be shuttered by 2030. And AB 3233 allows communities to “limit or prohibit” oil production within their borders, after lawsuits found such prohibitions ran afoul of previous state laws.

SB 1221 creates a pilot program for up 30 projects designed to decommission gas lines in communities and retrofit them for all-electric appliances.

Hydrogen has been the green fuel of the future for a while now, and SB 1420 tries to kick-start the state’s hydrogen industry by streamlining facility permits in the same way as wind and solar. Some green groups opposed the measure, saying it lacked safeguards for communities.

Other New Laws

Paraquat, a pesticide, is linked to Parkinson’s disease and other nasty health problems in farm workers. It’s banned in the European Union and China, and AB 1963 speeds up the lengthy review process necessary for a state ban. The bill also provides funding to expedite pesticide reviews generally, since these reviews can take decades.

“Diesel death zones” surround some shipping hubs. AB 98 requires new warehouses to be set back from houses and “sensitive receptors.” However, eco groups mostly say this law is meaningless, as the setback distances aren’t enough to help.

The “Complete Streets” law (SB 960) directs Caltrans to better accommodate cyclists, pedestrians, and transit on state roads (many of which are in heavily congested areas). This bill will improve safety and connectivity for people who either cannot or choose not to drive. It passed after years of resistance and foot-dragging from car-oriented Caltrans, including last year's firing of Deputy Director Jeanie Ward-Waller, who was a forceful voice within Caltrans for infrastructure that supports low-carbon mobility options for Californians.

Roads can fragment wildlife habitat, so the Room to Roam Act (AB 1889) directs local leaders to identify areas important for animal connectivity and then “avoid, minimize or mitigate” impacts to them so animals can rove unimpeded to find food, shelter, and mates. Mitigation could include crossings, fencing, and protecting habitat. The law follows one passed two years ago that directed Caltrans to consider animal needs for state roads and freeways, and loops in cities and counties into the statewide effort to protect the wildlife.

The Oppose Cruelty to Octopuses (OCTO) Act (AB 3162), makes it illegal for anyone to engage in the aquaculture of octopuses meant for human consumption or sell farmed octopi. There is no octopus farming in California, but anyone who watched the documentary My Octopus Teacher surely applauds this preemptive strike.

Vetoed

AB 2513 would have slapped a warning label on gas stoves, which emit nasties like nitrogen dioxide and benzyne; Newsom’s office said that while the goal is fine, the bill is too prescriptive and needs to be reworked.