California Senate Bill SB77

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/25
• Refer: 1/29/25
• Report Pass: 3/11/25
• Refer: 3/12/25
• Failed: 2/2/26

Caption

An act to amend Section 25724 of the Public Resources Code, relating to the state vehicle fleet.

Summary

SB 77 would amend California’s state vehicle fleet procurement rules to add labor-sourcing conditions for zero-emission light-duty vehicles purchased by the Department of General Services. Under the bill, suppliers would have to certify that key raw materials used in those vehicles — including aluminum, cobalt, and lithium — come from mining operations free of child labor, unless an exception applies. Suppliers would also have to provide the department with the locations where the raw materials were mined and the average hourly wage of the workers who mined them. The bill also requires the Department of General Services to publish this supplier-provided information on its website, along with a list of zero-emission vehicles purchased for the state fleet that are certified as using child-labor-free raw materials. The existing 50% zero-emission light-duty vehicle purchasing requirement remains in place, and the bill preserves the current exemption for vehicles with special public-safety performance needs. If the department determines it cannot meet state needs while complying, it must hold a public hearing, notify the Secretary of State, and stop implementing the section; it may also make that finding based on costs that are not substantially absorbable.

Impact

SB 77 would amend Section 25724 of the Public Resources Code, expanding the state’s zero-emission fleet procurement rules to include supply-chain disclosure and child-labor certification requirements. It would impose new duties on vehicle suppliers and on the Department of General Services, including public posting of mining locations, wage information, and certified vehicle lists. The bill would affect state vehicle purchasing practices, suppliers of electric vehicles and battery-related materials, and the department’s procurement and reporting procedures, while leaving the underlying 50% zero-emission purchase mandate intact.

Sentiment

The available vote history suggests the bill moved forward with little opposition in committee: it passed the Senate committee vote 13-0 and later was placed on the suspense file 7-0. That pattern indicates broad procedural support for the concept, at least at the committee level, but also that fiscal or implementation concerns were significant enough to send it to suspense. No committee transcript was provided, so the record does not show detailed debate or public testimony.

Contention

The main points of contention appear to be practical and fiscal rather than ideological. The bill’s requirements could be difficult for the Department of General Services and suppliers to verify, especially given global sourcing chains for lithium, cobalt, and aluminum. The statute’s built-in escape clause — allowing the department to stop implementing the requirement if it cannot meet state needs or if costs are not substantially absorbable — suggests concern about procurement feasibility and price impacts. Another likely issue is the scope of the child-labor certification and wage/location disclosure requirements, which may raise compliance and documentation burdens for vendors.