CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 2nd Ext.

Assembly Bill
No. 4

Introduced by Assembly Member Joe Patterson
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Alanis, Chen, Davies, Dixon, Gallagher, Lackey, and Ta)

September 11, 2024

An act to add Section 39617.2 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to air resources.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 4, as introduced, Joe Patterson. Low carbon fuel standards: regulations.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 establishes the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases. The act requires the state board to adopt rules and regulations to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas emissions reductions to ensure that the statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit, as defined, no later than December 31, 2030. Pursuant to the act, the state board has adopted the Low-Carbon Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulations.
This bill would prohibit the state board from amending the Low-Carbon Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulations prior to January 1, 2026.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) Californians continue to identify the high cost of living as one of their primary concerns of living in California.
(2) The State Air Resources Board stated that changes to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulations (Subarticle 7 (commencing with Section 95480) of Article 4 of Subchapter 10 of Chapter 1 of Division 3 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations) could increase the price of gasoline by as much as 47 cents per gallon in 2025 and 52 cents per gallon in 2026.
(3) This act would pause this increase in the price of gasoline currently proposed by the State Air Resources Board.
(b) It is the intent of this act to reduce the cost of gasoline and provide relief for millions of drivers.

SEC. 2.

 Section 39617.2 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

39617.2.
 Notwithstanding any other law, the state board shall not amend the Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulations (Subarticle 7 (commencing with Section 95480) of Article 4 of Subchapter 10 of Chapter 1 of Division 3 of Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations) prior to January 1, 2026.