SB 1075 (Reyes) – Air resources: toxic air contaminants: criteria air pollutants: community emissions reduction programs: local community emissions reduction plans
Session: 2025–2026 | Jurisdiction: California
Overview
SB 1075 would expand and restructure California’s framework for reducing toxic air contaminants (TACs) and criteria air pollutants (CAPs) in communities with high cumulative exposure. It updates definitions, timing for statewide strategy updates, and the process for developing and enforcing Community Emissions Reduction Programs (CERP) and Local Community Emission Reduction Plans (Local CERPs). It adds local land use alignment requirements, broadens participation and oversight, and increases coordination among agencies.
What the bill aims to accomplish
- Strengthen protections for disadvantaged communities, including disadvantaged unincorporated communities.
- Accelerate statewide strategy updates and align local planning with emission-reduction goals.
- Ensure local governments consider and integrate CERPs/Local CERPs into land use decisions, especially for larger commercial/industrial developments.
- Improve governance and accountability through expanded steering committee roles, enhanced oversight, and reporting to the Legislature.
- Improve coordination across state agencies to address pollution sources within CERPs.
Key provisions and changes
1) Definitions and statewide strategy
- Expands “disadvantaged community” to include disadvantaged unincorporated communities.
- Updates the statewide strategy: required by July 1, 2027, with updates every 3 years thereafter (instead of every 5 years).
- Requires public workshops in northern, central, and southern regions, and establishes criteria for identifying affected communities and contributing sources.
2) Community Emission Reduction Programs (CERPs) and Local CERPs
- The state board selects locations for CERPs; districts must, within two years (extendable by one year with agreement), adopt a CERP to achieve emissions reductions through cost-effective measures.
- CERPs/Local CERPs must be consistent with the statewide strategy and include reduction targets, measures, schedules, and enforcement plans.
- CERPs/Local CERPs must be submitted to the State Board for review and approval within 60 days of receipt; non-approvable plans trigger a public process and continued development of mobile-source elements.
3) Steering committees and governance
- Steering committees formed to assist in developing and implementing CERPs remain active until emission objectives are achieved or after five years with a two-thirds vote to disband.
- All steering committee members must reside/work within the program area; membership must reflect community diversity and use open nomination processes.
- Adds one environmental-justice-focused member to the governing boards of districts serving selected CERPs, appointed by the State Board in collaboration with the steering committee.
4) Grants and enforcement
- State Board may grant funds to community-based organizations for technical assistance and to support community participation in CERPs and related TAC/CAP strategies.
- Grants may be audited; misallocation can trigger corrective actions.
- Enforcement: CERPs/Local CERPs are enforceable by the district or State Board, as applicable.
5) Local land use planning and development
- Local governments with land use authority must align planning decisions with approved CERPs/Local CERPs and the Environmental Justice element of general plans.
- For commercial/industrial developments on sites of 5 acres or more, the city/county must “consider” (analyzed for air-quality impact and potential mitigation) the CERPs/Local CERPs before approval.
- If an alignment requirement is not met, agencies must provide findings at a public meeting; de novo challenges to noncompliant land-use decisions can be brought to the Attorney General.
6) Exceptions and flexibility
- Local land-use decisions may deviate if serving an essential environmental, health, or safety need with no reasonable alternative, but must be publicly noticed and supported by analysis.
- The Attorney General can require corrections or void decisions that fail to comply.
7) Reporting and coordination
- The State Board must report progress on implementing CERPs and Local CERPs to legislative budget subcommittees starting by June 30, 2027, and annually thereafter.
- The Secretary for Environmental Protection must convene agency representatives to ensure coordination on pollution sources within CERPs.
Impact and affected parties
- Local governments (cities and counties) with land-use authority will face new alignment requirements and potential additional analysis for major developments.
- Regional air districts and the State Air Resources Board (CARB) gain expanded duties, governance changes, and expanded oversight authority.
- Disadvantaged communities (including disadvantaged unincorporated areas) stand to benefit from more frequent strategy updates, targeted reduction efforts, and stronger inclusion in decision-making.
- Community-based organizations receive potential grant support to participate in and implement CERPs.
Timeline notes
- Statewide strategy updates: every 3 years, with the next by July 1, 2027.
- CERPs/Local CERPs: districts to adopt within 2 years of location selection (one-year extension possible).
- Steering committees: remain active until objectives achieved or extended by milestones/majority vote.
- Annual progress reporting to Legislature begins by 2027 and continues annually.
Policy stance
- SB 1075 is a regime-enhancing bill aimed at accelerating emissions reductions in highly burdened communities, elevating community participation, and tying land-use planning more closely to air-quality goals. It creates new enforcement and governance tools, with potential state-mandated local program implications.
