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AB 2543

Emergency preparedness: fuel and transportation resources: assessment.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rhodesia Ransom and 1 co-sponsor

AB 2543 aims to ensure DC fast-charging sites stay available or recover quickly during emergencies through coordinated planning, standards, and support among operators, localities,

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
#emergencypreparedness #assessment #fuelandtransportationresources
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 2543

Overview

AB 2543 (2025-2026) of California focuses on emergency preparedness related to direct-current (DC) fast-charging station sites. The bill outlines requirements and processes intended to enhance resilience and reliability of DC fast-charging infrastructure during emergencies, ensuring critical charging capacity is available when needed.

Purpose and Intent

  • Improve state and local readiness for energy disruptions that could affect transportation and critical services.
  • Ensure DC fast-charging sites are prepared to operate or rapidly recover during emergencies, supporting mobility, emergency response, and essential services.
  • Provide a framework for planning, coordination, and potential funding or standards to support reliable charging availability.

Key Provisions and Changes (What the Bill Would Do)

  • Establish requirements for emergency preparedness planning specific to DC fast-charging station sites.
  • Define roles and responsibilities for charging network operators, local jurisdictions, and state agencies in emergency scenarios.
  • Specify timing and coordination mechanisms to ensure charging sites can function or be prioritized for power restoration during outages.
  • Include potential standards for site resilience, such as reliability benchmarks, redundancy, fuel or energy storage considerations, and communication protocols.
  • Create processes to assess and mitigate vulnerabilities at charging sites, including risks from natural disasters, grid instability, or other emergencies.
  • Enable collaboration with utility providers and emergency management agencies to align charging availability with public safety and evacuation needs.
  • Address permitting, reporting, and site-activation requirements tied to emergency events.
  • Potentially outline funding, incentives, or state oversight to support the implementation of emergency-ready DC fast-charging sites.

Who Would Be Affected

  • DC fast-charging station operators and owners.
  • Local government agencies (cities and counties) responsible for permitting, land use, and emergency planning.
  • California state agencies involved in energy, transportation, and emergency management (e.g., Energy, Transportation, Emergency Management authorities).
  • Utilities and regional grid operators participating in emergency restoration and reliability planning.
  • End users relying on DC fast-charging infrastructure for electric vehicle charging during emergencies.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill has progressed through multiple readings and committee stages, indicating active consideration and amendments:
    • Referred to committees in early 2026 with subsequent amendments.
    • Passed committee votes with unanimous or strong support in several instances.
    • Advanced from committee to the floor, then through the third-reading and final passage steps in May 2026.
    • After passing the assembly, the bill would be forwarded to the Senate for consideration.
  • Key milestones reflected in the action history:
    • May 14, 2026: Amended and passed by the Assembly committee; moved to APPR (Appropriations) suspense file at one point.
    • May 18-19, 2026: Read second time, amended, and routed toward third reading.
    • May 26, 2026: Read third time, passed, and ordered to the Senate.
  • The exact calendar dates in the Senate will determine final passage, potential amendments, and any reconciliation.

Additional Notes

  • A co-sponsor for the bill is Rhodesia Ransom.
  • The summary above reflects the bill’s stated focus on improving resilience and reliability of DC fast-charging stations during emergencies, with emphasis on coordination among operators, local governments, and state agencies.
  • Specific dollar amounts, penalties, or detailed regulatory standards are not provided in the publicly available summary; the final text would spell out precise requirements, funding, and compliance mechanisms if adopted.

If you’d like, I can extract and summarize any specific sections from the bill text (once available) or compare it to related emergency-planning or charging-infrastructure legislation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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