Assembly Natural Resources Committee advances package of bills on CEQA, wildfire projects, trucks and batteries
June 29, 2026 | California State Assembly, House, Legislative, California
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The Assembly Natural Resources Committee met for its final hearing of the year and voted to advance a set of bills addressing housing‑related CEQA interpretation, illegal dumping, recycling fees for bag‑in‑box wine, expedited wildfire mitigation, heavy‑duty truck market transparency, and battery disposal.
Senator Weber Pearson asked the committee to support SB 958, saying recent appellate decisions had expanded CEQA review of building‑height effects to include speculative impacts such as airflow and wildlife attraction and that the broadened standard was delaying housing projects. "This judicial ruling can set bad precedent and inhibit future development," Weber Pearson said, citing the Midway Rising project in San Diego as an example of years of delay to a project that would add about 2,000 affordable units. Moira Topp, representing San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, told the committee the city supported the bill as a clarification that would help projects already through extensive environmental review.
The committee also advanced SB 1230, presented by Senator Valladares, to increase penalties and create CalRecycle resources targeted at commercial repeat offenders of illegal dumping. Valladares told members that illegal dumping imposes cleanup costs on local governments and creates public‑health and wildfire risks in rural communities.
On recycling policy, Senator Cabaldon asked the panel to pass SB 1341 to calculate processing fees for bag‑in‑box wine on the weight of the inner flexible bag and valve rather than the cardboard box, after a December fee increase CalRecycle announced that sponsors say was disproportionately large for bag‑in‑box products. Tim Schmelzer of the Wine Institute urged support, saying the change would right‑size fees for a low‑margin industry segment.
The committee took a longer debate on SB 1370, Senator Stern's bill to codify and refine a fast‑track process for wildfire fuel‑reduction projects. Stern and supporters said the bill preserves environmental safeguards while speeding projects that reduce community wildfire risk. The Nature Conservancy, utilities including PG&E and Southern California Edison, and several county representatives supported the measure. Environmental organizations including Sierra Club and Audubon voiced concerns about the bill's breadth, potential herbicide use, and the strength of habitat protections; Jacob Evans of Sierra Club California said the amendments improved the bill but did not address all concerns. Stern and others noted committee amendments that added geographic and project‑size limits and reporting requirements and pledged further work with stakeholders.
Senator Reyes presented SB 1213, the Clean Truck Transparency Act, asking for greater price transparency in the medium‑ and heavy‑duty zero‑emission truck market for vehicles that receive state incentives. Guillermo Ortiz of the Natural Resources Defense Council and Melanie Law of E2 testified in support, saying better data would help fleets, lenders and policymakers evaluate market progress and the effectiveness of subsidies.
Finally, the committee advanced SB 501 to expand battery extended producer responsibility to medium‑format removable batteries (up to 25 pounds) used in e‑bikes and similar products. Heidi Sanborn of the National Stewardship Action Council said including these batteries in a producer‑funded stewardship program will reduce hazardous waste and fire risks at collection and disposal facilities and relieve local governments of those cleanup costs.
Votes and next steps: Committee members moved each bill as "due pass" (some as amended) to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The clerk called the roll on each motion and the chair left the items open for absent members when applicable; committee chairs and witnesses said they would continue working with stakeholders to refine language before floor consideration.
The committee adjourned after completing its calendar and thanking staff for the year’s work.
Senator Weber Pearson asked the committee to support SB 958, saying recent appellate decisions had expanded CEQA review of building‑height effects to include speculative impacts such as airflow and wildlife attraction and that the broadened standard was delaying housing projects. "This judicial ruling can set bad precedent and inhibit future development," Weber Pearson said, citing the Midway Rising project in San Diego as an example of years of delay to a project that would add about 2,000 affordable units. Moira Topp, representing San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, told the committee the city supported the bill as a clarification that would help projects already through extensive environmental review.
The committee also advanced SB 1230, presented by Senator Valladares, to increase penalties and create CalRecycle resources targeted at commercial repeat offenders of illegal dumping. Valladares told members that illegal dumping imposes cleanup costs on local governments and creates public‑health and wildfire risks in rural communities.
On recycling policy, Senator Cabaldon asked the panel to pass SB 1341 to calculate processing fees for bag‑in‑box wine on the weight of the inner flexible bag and valve rather than the cardboard box, after a December fee increase CalRecycle announced that sponsors say was disproportionately large for bag‑in‑box products. Tim Schmelzer of the Wine Institute urged support, saying the change would right‑size fees for a low‑margin industry segment.
The committee took a longer debate on SB 1370, Senator Stern's bill to codify and refine a fast‑track process for wildfire fuel‑reduction projects. Stern and supporters said the bill preserves environmental safeguards while speeding projects that reduce community wildfire risk. The Nature Conservancy, utilities including PG&E and Southern California Edison, and several county representatives supported the measure. Environmental organizations including Sierra Club and Audubon voiced concerns about the bill's breadth, potential herbicide use, and the strength of habitat protections; Jacob Evans of Sierra Club California said the amendments improved the bill but did not address all concerns. Stern and others noted committee amendments that added geographic and project‑size limits and reporting requirements and pledged further work with stakeholders.
Senator Reyes presented SB 1213, the Clean Truck Transparency Act, asking for greater price transparency in the medium‑ and heavy‑duty zero‑emission truck market for vehicles that receive state incentives. Guillermo Ortiz of the Natural Resources Defense Council and Melanie Law of E2 testified in support, saying better data would help fleets, lenders and policymakers evaluate market progress and the effectiveness of subsidies.
Finally, the committee advanced SB 501 to expand battery extended producer responsibility to medium‑format removable batteries (up to 25 pounds) used in e‑bikes and similar products. Heidi Sanborn of the National Stewardship Action Council said including these batteries in a producer‑funded stewardship program will reduce hazardous waste and fire risks at collection and disposal facilities and relieve local governments of those cleanup costs.
Votes and next steps: Committee members moved each bill as "due pass" (some as amended) to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. The clerk called the roll on each motion and the chair left the items open for absent members when applicable; committee chairs and witnesses said they would continue working with stakeholders to refine language before floor consideration.
The committee adjourned after completing its calendar and thanking staff for the year’s work.
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