<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<ns0:MeasureDoc xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:ns0="http://lc.ca.gov/legalservices/schemas/caml.1#" xmlns:ns3="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="1.0" xsi:schemaLocation="http://lc.ca.gov/legalservices/schemas/caml.1# xca.1.xsd">
	


	<ns0:Description>
		<ns0:Id>20250AB__049198AMD</ns0:Id>
		<ns0:VersionNum>98</ns0:VersionNum>
		<ns0:History>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-02-10</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-03-26</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
		</ns0:History>
		<ns0:LegislativeInfo>
			<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
			<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
			<ns0:MeasureType>AB</ns0:MeasureType>
			<ns0:MeasureNum>491</ns0:MeasureNum>
			<ns0:MeasureState>AMD</ns0:MeasureState>
		</ns0:LegislativeInfo>
		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Connolly</ns0:AuthorText>
		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="COAUTHOR_ORIGINATING">(Coauthors: Assembly Members Pellerin and Rogers)</ns0:AuthorText>
		<ns0:Authors>
			<ns0:Legislator>
				<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
				<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
				<ns0:Name>Connolly</ns0:Name>
			</ns0:Legislator>
			<ns0:Legislator>
				<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
				<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
				<ns0:Name>Pellerin</ns0:Name>
			</ns0:Legislator>
			<ns0:Legislator>
				<ns0:Contribution>COAUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
				<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
				<ns0:Name>Rogers</ns0:Name>
			</ns0:Legislator>
		</ns0:Authors>
		<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 38561.5 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to greenhouse gases. </ns0:Title>
		<ns0:RelatingClause>greenhouse gases</ns0:RelatingClause>
		<ns0:GeneralSubject>
			<ns0:Subject>California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: climate goals: natural and working lands.</ns0:Subject>
		</ns0:GeneralSubject>
		<ns0:DigestText>
			<html:p>The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 establishes the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for monitoring and regulating sources emitting greenhouse gases and requires the state board to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. The act declares the policy of the state to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, and to achieve and maintain net negative greenhouse gas emissions thereafter. The act requires the state board to prepare and approve a scoping plan for achieving the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and to update the scoping plan at least once every 5 years.</html:p>
			<html:p>The act also requires the Natural Resources Agency, in collaboration with
			 specified entities, including the state board, to determine an ambitious range of targets for natural carbon sequestration, and for nature-based climate solutions, that reduce greenhouse gas emissions for 2030, 2038, and 2045 to support state goals to achieve carbon neutrality and foster climate adaptation and resilience. The act requires these targets to be integrated into the above-described scoping plan and other state policies.</html:p>
			<html:p>This bill would specify that it is the goal of the state to achieve each of the targets established by the Natural Resources Agency by the applicable date for the target, with priority given to activities that most rapidly, significantly, and cost effectively increase carbon stocks and net sequestration, protect and support ecosystem function, and reduce
			 emissions of greenhouse gases. The bill would also revise the definition of “natural carbon sequestration” for purposes of the above-described provisions.</html:p>
		</ns0:DigestText>
		<ns0:DigestKey>
			<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
			<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
			<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
			<ns0:LocalProgram>NO</ns0:LocalProgram>
		</ns0:DigestKey>
		<ns0:MeasureIndicators>
			<ns0:ImmediateEffect>NO</ns0:ImmediateEffect>
			<ns0:ImmediateEffectFlags>
				<ns0:Urgency>NO</ns0:Urgency>
				<ns0:TaxLevy>NO</ns0:TaxLevy>
				<ns0:Election>NO</ns0:Election>
				<ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>NO</ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>
				<ns0:BudgetBill>NO</ns0:BudgetBill>
				<ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>NO</ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>
			</ns0:ImmediateEffectFlags>
		</ns0:MeasureIndicators>
	</ns0:Description>
	<ns0:Bill id="bill">
		<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_3DBF0EFA-CA02-4A98-8BDA-8B7FEB0D9604">
			<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:Content>
				<html:p>The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:</html:p>
				<html:p>
					(a)
					<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
					California’s natural and working lands are essential to mitigating emissions and adapting to climate change. Restoring, maintaining, and conserving these as well-managed lands is a necessary complement to other direct emissions reductions. Climate-smart land management offers near-term, rapid, cost-effective, and large-scale opportunities for enduring reductions in emissions of carbon and other potent greenhouse gases, such as methane.
				</html:p>
				<html:p>
					(b)
					<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
					When lands are degraded, they release more greenhouse gases, increase climate
				risks to people and nature, and are more vulnerable to future climate change impacts. Lands stressed by climate change threaten food and water security, economic prosperity, and globally significant biodiversity.
				</html:p>
				<html:p>
					(c)
					<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
					In April 2024, the Natural Resources Agency established targets for natural carbon sequestration, and for nature-based climate solutions, as required by Section 38561.5 of the Health and Safety Code, in a document titled California’s Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets. The targets establish annual goals for nonregulatory climate action across various land types for 2025 through 2045, inclusive.
				</html:p>
				<html:p>
					(d)
					<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
					Improving the health, function, and resilience of our natural and working landscapes will help reduce risks from wildfire, floods, and extreme weather events due to
				global warming that has already occurred.
				</html:p>
			</ns0:Content>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_7842F82F-9DBD-4F4E-8A49-DF342532C826">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:HSC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'25.5.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'4.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'38561.5.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 38561.5 of the 
				<ns0:DocName>Health and Safety Code</ns0:DocName>
				 is amended to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_2307C69B-4D4C-40D9-9C8E-8F9D67EDEDCA">
					<ns0:Num>38561.5.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_79784B25-9750-4315-92BA-2C6BD5FA0EBB">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“Natural carbon sequestration” means actions that are undertaken on natural and working lands to remove and provide enduring storage of atmospheric greenhouse gases in vegetation and soils. This shall include preservation, conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of these lands, which may include compost application, cover crops, hedgerows, planned grazing, urban forestry, riparian restoration, restoration of tidal flows to wetlands, and other forms of wetland restoration, among other relevant actions.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“Natural lands” has the same meaning as set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 9001.5 of the Public Resources Code.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(3)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“Nature-based climate solutions” means activities, such as restoration, conservation, and land management actions, that increase net carbon sequestration or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in natural and working lands.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(4)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“Vulnerable communities” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 71340 of the Public Resources
						Code.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(5)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								“Working lands” has the same meaning as set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 9001.5 of the Public Resources Code.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								On or before January 1, 2024, the Natural Resources Agency, in collaboration with the state board, the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the expert advisory committee established pursuant to subdivision (c), and other relevant state agencies, shall determine an ambitious range of targets for natural carbon sequestration, and for nature-based climate solutions, that reduce greenhouse gas emissions for 2030, 2038, and 2045 to support state goals to achieve carbon neutrality and foster climate adaptation and resilience. These targets shall be integrated into the
						scoping plan prepared pursuant to Section 38561 and other state policies.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Projects and actions developed to achieve the targets established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall support the state’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, take into account climate impacts, increase resilience to climate change impacts, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance carbon sequestration in a manner that maximizes ecological health and biodiversity, and complements other climate and resources goals.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(3)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The state board shall ensure that all emissions reductions from projects and actions developed to achieve the targets established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be accounted for in a manner that does not result in double counting of emissions reductions, and that all greenhouse gas
						emissions reductions and removals used for any market-based compliance mechanism are in addition to any reductions and removals that would otherwise occur.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(4)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								On or before January 1, 2025, the Natural Resources Agency, in consultation with the state board, the California Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Food and Agriculture, shall review and update the Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy established pursuant to Section 39740.2 to achieve the targets established pursuant to paragraph (1).
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(5)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The review and update pursuant to paragraph (4) shall include all of the following:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(A)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Descriptions of the actions and projects undertaken on natural and working lands to date.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(B)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Quantified progress on emissions reductions, natural carbon sequestration, and cobenefits.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(C)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A description of how the relevant agencies calculated emissions reductions, natural carbon sequestration, and cobenefits.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(D)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								A summary of the benefits to low-income communities, disadvantaged communities, vulnerable communities, disadvantaged farmers, and Native American tribes.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(E)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								An evaluation of the efficacy of the priority nature-based solutions, pathways, and priority actions for greenhouse gas reductions, climate resilience, and climate change adaptation.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(F)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Identification and description of any
						barriers to achieving the range of targets pursuant to paragraph (1).
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(G)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Recommendations to address the barriers identified in
						subparagraph (F) to achieve the range of targets pursuant to paragraph (1).
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(H)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Recommendations from the expert advisory committee established pursuant to subdivision (c).
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(6)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								It is the goal of the state to achieve each of the targets established by the Natural Resources Agency pursuant to paragraph (1) by the applicable date for the target, with priority given to activities that most rapidly, significantly, and cost effectively increase carbon stocks and net sequestration, protect and support ecosystem function, and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The Natural Resources Agency and the state board shall jointly
						establish an expert advisory committee that is composed of university researchers, technical assistance providers, practitioners and other experts in the field of climate change and
						natural and working lands science and management, and Indigenous and environmental justice representatives, to inform and review modeling and analyses for natural and working lands, to advise state agencies on implementation strategies and standardized accounting, and to provide recommendations on addressing barriers to efficient implementation of this section.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(d)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								No later than January 1, 2025, the state board shall develop standard methods for state agencies to consistently track greenhouse gas emissions and reductions, carbon sequestration, and, where feasible and in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Food and Agriculture, additional benefits from natural and working lands over time. In estimating and tracking greenhouse gas emissions and reductions and carbon sequestration from natural
						and working lands, the state board shall take into account, where feasible, both of the following:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Greenhouse gas emissions and reductions of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide related to natural and working lands.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Potential impacts of climate change, including, but not limited to, increased fire risk, warming temperatures, and decreasing precipitation, on the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon from natural and working lands.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(e)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								On or before January 1, 2025, and every two years thereafter, the Natural Resources Agency shall publish data on its internet website on progress made in achieving the targets established pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), including on state expenditures
						made to implement these targets.
							</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
					</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
	</ns0:Bill>
</ns0:MeasureDoc>