SB 298: State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: seaports: plan: alternative fuels.

Official summary

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

Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to adopt rules and regulations that will achieve ambient air quality standards required by the federal Clean Air Act, as specified. Existing law requires the state board, following a noticed public hearing, to adopt airborne toxic control measures to reduce emissions of toxic air contaminants from nonvehicular sources. Pursuant to this authority, the state board has adopted the Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Fuel Sulfur and Other Operational Requirements for Ocean-Going Vessels within California Waters and 24 Nautical Miles of the California Baseline regulation to require the use of low-sulfur marine distillate fuels in order to reduce emissions of particulate matter, diesel particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur oxides from the use of auxiliary diesel and diesel-electric engines, main propulsion diesel engines, and auxiliary boilers on oceangoing vessels.

This bill would require the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission), in coordination with the State Lands Commission, the Transportation Agency, and the state board, to develop a plan on or before December 31, 2030, for the alternative fuel needs of oceangoing vessels that call at California’s public seaports and that enables the seaports to meet their emission reduction goals. The bill would require that the plan do specified things, including, among other things, identify barriers to permitting alternative fuel facilities at seaports and opportunities to address those barriers. The bill would require the Energy Commission to convene a working group to advise the Energy Commission on the development of the information required to be included in the plan, as specified. The bill would require the state board to provide the Energy Commission with information regarding fuels for oceangoing vessels that comply with the state board’s regulations for those vessels.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4

“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. March 2, 2026Veto sustained.
2. March 2, 2026Stricken from file.
3. October 13, 2025In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
4. October 13, 2025Vetoed by the Governor.
5. September 22, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
6. September 11, 2025Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 2873.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
7. September 9, 2025In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
8. September 9, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 80. Noes 0. Page 3073.) Ordered to the Senate.
9. September 2, 2025Ordered to third reading.
10. September 2, 2025Read third time and amended.
11. September 2, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
12. August 29, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 29).