AB 2606: Oil and gas: subsurface energy transition research and demonstration projects: California State University, Bakersfield.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law establishes the Geologic Energy Management Division in the Department of Conservation under the direction of the State Oil and Gas Supervisor, who is required to supervise the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of oil and gas wells in the state and the operation, maintenance, and removal or abandonment of tanks and facilities related to oil and gas production within an oil and gas field so as to prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources.

Existing law establishes the California State University under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state.

This bill would require the department, consistent with its statutory authority and in coordination with other state or federal regulatory agencies, to prioritize granting approvals for specified types of low-carbon or carbon-reducing technologies and applications. The bill would authorize the department to establish the Subsurface Low-Carbon Demonstration Project Program to facilitate partnerships among the state, the California State University system, private industry, and public entities to study and demonstrate innovative subsurface technologies using existing and idle wells.

The bill would authorize the department to establish various programs in partnership with the California State University and California State University, Bakersfield, including (1) the Regional Subsurface Energy Transition and Applied Research Program and (2) a subsurface energy research field station for applied research, field testing, monitoring, and demonstration of subsurface technologies. The bill would also authorize the department to (3) collaborate with the California Energy Research Center at California State University, Bakersfield, and recognize the center as a state-affiliated applied research, technical assistance, and policy support partner, as provided, and (4) designate and support the California Core Repository at California State University, Bakersfield, as an official state-affiliated repository, as provided.

This bill would authorize the department to establish and administer an official department office at California State University, Bakersfield, and would authorize the California State University to support and collaborate on activities across the full scope of the department’s statutory responsibilities, as provided.

This bill would explicitly authorize university-based researchers associated with any of the above-described programs to serve on advisory panels, technical working groups, and research committees in an advisory capacity, and provide scientific expertise to inform regulatory development, interagency coordination, and public communication.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. May 14, 2026From committee: Without further action pursuant to Joint Rule 62(a).
2. April 20, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Failed passage.
3. April 16, 2026(Pending re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED.)
4. April 16, 2026Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 4663.)
5. March 24, 2026Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
6. March 23, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
7. March 23, 2026Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and HIGHER ED.
8. February 21, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
9. February 20, 2026Read first time. To print.