Senate committee advances bill to expand Imperial County air board, require online permit postings

Senator Padilla presented SB 675 to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, saying the bill would restructure the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) board to increase membership and add public members with expertise in agriculture, labor, environmental justice, special districts and public health. "This bill would require the district to post information related to air permits on a public website in order to afford greater public access to information that is required to be publicly available," Padilla said.

Padilla framed the bill as a response to long-standing air-quality problems in Imperial County, citing a national assessment: "To the American Lung Association state, it is 1 of 20 counties in the nation to receive an F grade in all 3 measures of pollution — ozone, short term particle pollution, and year-round particle pollution." He noted environmental stressors including exposed lake bed sediments that contribute to dangerous dust storms and elevated childhood asthma hospitalization rates.

Supporters said the bill will broaden representation and public engagement. Jonathan Clay, speaking for the City of Imperial, told the committee the disclosures the bill requires are already public records but difficult to access, so posting them online would increase transparency. Alfredo Medina of the Imperial Irrigation District said the district strongly supported the measure and appreciated explicit inclusion of an irrigation district seat.

Opponents urged caution, raising funding and implementation concerns. Michelle Balcava, representing the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, said the county supported the objectives of diversification and transparency but opposed the bill as drafted because it provides no funding mechanism to support an expanded board and sets timelines (referenced in the bill as 2027 and 2029) she called unrealistic. John Kendrick of the California Chamber of Commerce warned the bill transplants an urban model to a small rural county without state funding and said the cost burden would fall to either permit-holder fees or grants; he noted Imperial County has "less than 1,000 total air permit holders."

Padilla responded that SB 675 does not change APCD regulatory authorities or statutory rules, only the composition of the governing board: "The number of people who get to access that same process that we already have in statute and in rules, are just a little more large and a little more diverse and a little more competent subject matter wise." He asked the committee for an affirmative vote.

After establishing a quorum, the committee voted to concur in Assembly amendments pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). The clerk announced a final vote of 4-2 in favor. The committee adjourned.

SB 675 now proceeds with the committee’s concurrence recorded; the next legislative step will follow the Senate’s regular floor and enrollment procedures.