An act to add Section 40714 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to air pollution.
Summary
AB 1305 would require California air pollution control districts and air quality management districts to publish, on their websites, a standardized map of permitted facilities for certain active permits involving air pollutant-emitting or controlling equipment or processes that use emission reduction credits. The map would have to include specified permit information such as the site address, permit holder contact information, the business name and parent organizations, a description of the permitted process or equipment, the credits used, and any BACT, BARCT, or other emissions control measures required by the permit.
The bill directs the Office of Data and Innovation to create the website template districts must use, and to consult with local community groups in designing it so the information is presented in a visually accessible, data-friendly way. The stated purpose is to make permit conditions easier for the public to understand and use, especially for communities near industrial facilities that may face localized pollution impacts.
Impact
AB 1305 would add Section 40714 to the Health and Safety Code and impose a new state-mandated local program on air districts by requiring them to maintain and publish standardized permit maps online. It would expand public access to air permit data and create a new administrative duty for districts to collect, format, and post permit information for covered facilities. The bill also includes a no-reimbursement clause, stating that the state would not reimburse local agencies for the mandate.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have generally favorable support in committee, as reflected by the 9-4 vote to pass as amended and re-refer it to Appropriations. The bill’s findings and structure frame it as a transparency and community-health measure, emphasizing public access, standardized data, and local oversight of pollution controls. There is no recorded transcript debate in the provided materials, but the vote suggests some support alongside a meaningful minority of reservations.
Contention
The main points of contention likely concern the added workload and compliance costs for air districts, since the bill requires them to create and maintain a new public-facing mapping system and to update permit information in a standardized format. Another possible issue is the bill’s no-reimbursement provision, which may be controversial because it shifts implementation responsibilities to local agencies without state reimbursement. Supporters, by contrast, are focused on transparency, environmental justice, and enabling communities to verify whether permitted facilities are complying with BACT and BARCT requirements.
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