The Legislature has officially recessed for the summer this week, but not before moving on a key piece of environmental legislation.
On Monday, lawmakers gave a bi-partisan nod of approval to AB 398 (Garcia, D-Coachella), the extension of the state’s cap-and-trade program through the year 2030. The program aims to slash emissions by requiring entities to purchase permits to release greenhouse gases. The program’s renewal was a key priority for Governor Brown.
AB 398’s win for environmental stewardship falls in line with Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ encyclical on ecology and climate change. Ladauto Si identifies climate change and pollution as modern pressing ecological challenge, and extending cap-and-trade directly addresses those challenges to create a climate “for the common good, belonging to all and meant for all.”
The California Catholic Conference (CCC) is closely monitoring SB 54 (de León, D – Los Angeles), which would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from using resources for immigration enforcement. The bill stalled in the Appropriations Committee and will likely be taken up upon the Legislature’s return.
AB 569 (Gonzales Fletcher, D – San Diego), the bill targeting religious employers’ ability to enforce codes of conduct, also remains in the Appropriations Committee where it will be taken up on August 21st, the day the Legislature returns from summer recess. Though it’s expected to be passed on a partisan vote, stay tuned to the CCC for updates on ways to help defeat this bill.
There was no movement on AB 1227 (Bonta, D-Oakland), the Human Trafficking and Prevention Act. However, the CCC is closely supporting and tracking this bill.
Lawmakers will return to Sacramento on August 21, where they have until September 15 to send any bills to the Governor in hopes of getting them signed into law. You can always visit the CCC’s Legislation page and Alert page for updates and other important legislative information.