The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 requires the State Air Resources Board to determine what the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level was in 1990 and approve in a public hearing a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit that is equivalent to that level, to be achieved by 2020. The act requires the state board, in adopting 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 1990 levels no later than December 31, 2030.
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission with regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable.
This bill would require the commission, before approving any capital investment by a gas corporation for natural gas distribution infrastructure exceeding $10,000,000, to determine that the proposed investment is consistent with the state's greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, and would require a gas corporation seeking approval of an investment to provide evidence regarding specified factors.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or an order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the above provisions would be part of the Public Utilities Act and a violation of a commission action implementing this bill's requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Statutes affected:
SB1359: 451 PUC, 451 PUC, 977 PUC, 977 PUC, 892 PUC
02/20/26 - Introduced: 892 PUC
03/25/26 - Amended Senate: 451 PUC, 451 PUC, 977 PUC, 977 PUC, 892 PUC
04/13/26 - Amended Senate: 451 PUC, 977 PUC
05/14/26 - Amended Senate: 451 PUC, 977 PUC
SB 1359: 892 PUC