California 2023-2024 Regular Session Status: To Executive 2 D cosponsors

SB 420 — Electricity: electrical transmission facility projects.

Last action — Veto sustained.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom (Democratic) on January 25, 2024.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, while local publicly owned electric utilities are under the direction of their governing boards. Existing law, implemented by the PUC through a general order, generally prohibits an electrical corporation from beginning the construction of a line, plant, or system, or of any extension thereof, without having first obtained from the commission a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity require or will require its construction, as specified. However, existing law exempts the extension, expansion, upgrade, or other modification of an existing electrical transmission facility, including transmission lines and substations, from that certification requirement. This bill would additionally exempt the rebuilding of an existing electrical transmission facility from that requirement, and would provide that the construction of a new electrical transmission facility, or the extension, expansion, upgrade, rebuilding, or other modification of an electrical transmission facility, including lines and substations, by an electrical corporation serving 10,000 or more retail customers does not require that certification, a permit to construct, or any other discretionary permit from the commission, if the new or modified electrical transmission facility meets certain requirements. The bill would also require the PUC, no later than January 1, 2025, to revise the general order to implement these changes, as specified. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because certain provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Veto sustained.

  2. Stricken from file.

  3. In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.

  4. Vetoed by the Governor.

  5. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

  6. Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2839.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  7. From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 15. Noes 0. Page 2770.)

  8. From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 2611.) Re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.

  9. Re-referred to Com. on RLS pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).

  10. In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  11. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 1. Page 3146.) Ordered to the Senate.

  12. Ordered to third reading.

  13. Read third time and amended.

  14. Assembly Rule 69 suspended.

  15. Ordered to third reading.

  16. Read third time and amended.

  17. Ordered to third reading.

  18. From consent calendar on motion of Assembly Member Bryan.

  19. Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

  20. From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 23).

  21. August 16 hearing postponed by committee.

  22. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (July 12). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  23. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (July 10). Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.

  24. Assembly Rule 56 suspended.

  25. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.

  26. June 28 hearing postponed by committee.

  27. Re-referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and U. & E. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

  28. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.

  29. Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and NAT. RES.

  30. In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  31. Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 1364.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  32. Ordered to special consent calendar.

  33. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  34. Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  35. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 1169.) (May 18).

  36. Set for hearing May 18.

  37. May 15 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.

  38. Set for hearing May 15.

  39. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  40. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0. Page 870.) (April 24).

  41. Set for hearing April 24.

  42. April 18 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.

  43. Set for hearing April 18.

  44. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.

  45. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on E., U. & C. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 571.) (March 29).

  46. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.

  47. Set for hearing March 29.

  48. Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and E., U. & C.

  49. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 12.

  50. Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 120 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (120)

120 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Unfinished Business SB420 Becker et al. Concurrence

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 11000
Democratic 22000
Republican 7000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Roth — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Newman — Yea
Min — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Yea
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Yea

Official roll call →

That the Assembly amendments be concurred in

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 6002
Republican 2001
Unaffiliated 7000
Total 15003
% of votes cast 83%0%0%17%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Eggman — Yea
Min — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Newman — Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Not Voting
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Not Voting
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Not Voting
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SB 420 Becker Senate Third Reading By Muratsuchi

Passed 78 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 46001
Republican 13000
Unaffiliated 19100
Total 78101
% of votes cast 98%1%0%1%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Jones-Sawyer — Yea
Rendon — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Maienschein — Yea
Ting — Yea
Wood — Yea
Low — Yea
Holden — Yea
Mathis — Yea
Rodriguez — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Waldron — Yea
Santiago — Yea
Essayli — Nay
Villapudua — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Yea
Jim Patterson — Yea
Luz Rivas — Yea
Vince Fong — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. Democratic Yea
Alvarez, David Democratic Yea
Arambula, Joaquin Democratic Yea
Bains, Jasmeet Democratic Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Not Voting
Bennett, Steve Democratic Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Boerner, Tasha Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Carrillo, Juan Democratic Yea
Cervantes, Sabrina Democratic Yea
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Gabriel, Jesse Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Haney, Matt Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Jackson, Corey A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Lowenthal, Josh Democratic Yea
McKinnor, Tina Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Ortega, Liz Democratic Yea
Pacheco, Blanca Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Petrie-Norris, Cottie Democratic Yea
Quirk-Silva, Sharon Democratic Yea
Ramos, James C. Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Rivas, Robert Democratic Yea
Rubio, Blanca E. Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Valencia, Avelino Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Alanis, Juan Republican Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Gallagher, James Republican Yea
Hoover, Josh Republican Yea
Lackey, Tom Republican Yea
Patterson, Joe Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea
Ta, Tri Republican Yea
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass. To Consent Calendar.

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 9000
Republican 3000
Unaffiliated 3001
Total 15001
% of votes cast 94%0%0%6%
How each member voted (16)
Member Party Vote
Holden — Yea
Mathis — Yea
McCarty — Not Voting
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Bryan, Isaac G. Democratic Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Fong, Mike Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Papan, Diane Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Soria, Esmeralda Democratic Yea
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Wilson, Lori D. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Dixon, Diane Republican Yea
Sanchez, Kate Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 13 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 6001
Democratic 5001
Republican 2000
Total 13002
% of votes cast 87%0%0%13%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Santiago — Yea
Mathis — Yea
Wood — Yea
Ting — Yea
Eduardo Garcia — Not Voting
Jim Patterson — Yea
Wendy Carrillo — Yea
Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic Not Voting
Connolly, Damon Democratic Yea
Hart, Gregg Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Reyes, Eloise Gómez Democratic Yea
Schiavo, Pilar Democratic Yea
Chen, Phillip Republican Yea
Wallis, Greg Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Utilities and Energy]

Passed 11 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4000
Republican 2000
Democratic 5000
Total 11000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Wood — Yea
Friedman — Yea
Mathis — Yea
Luz Rivas — Yea
Addis, Dawn Democratic Yea
Muratsuchi, Al Democratic Yea
Pellerin, Gail Democratic Yea
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Zbur, Rick Chavez Democratic Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea
Hoover, Josh Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Special Consent

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 22000
Unaffiliated 11000
Republican 7000
Total 40000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Roth — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Newman — Yea
Min — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Eggman — Yea
Glazer — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Archuleta, Bob Democratic Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Blakespear, Catherine S. Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Cortese, Dave Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Laird, John Democratic Yea
Limón, Monique Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Smallwood-Cuevas, Lola Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Umberg, Thomas J. Democratic Yea
Wahab, Aisha Democratic Yea
Wiener, Scott D. Democratic Yea
Alvarado-Gil, Marie Republican Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea
Niello, Roger W. Republican Yea
Ochoa Bogh, Rosilicie Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 17 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 8000
Unaffiliated 7000
Republican 2001
Total 17001
% of votes cast 94%0%0%6%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Eggman — Yea
Min — Yea
Dodd — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Wilk — Yea
Newman — Yea
Ashby, Angelique V. Democratic Yea
Becker, Josh Democratic Yea
Caballero, Anna M. Democratic Yea
Durazo, Maria Elena Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
McGuire, Mike Democratic Yea
Rubio, Susan Democratic Yea
Stern, Henry I. Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Not Voting
Grove, Shannon Republican Yea
Seyarto, Kelly Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Energy, Utilities and Communications] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 5000
Republican 1000
Unaffiliated 1000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Skinner — Yea
Allen, Benjamin Democratic Yea
Gonzalez, Lena A. Democratic Yea
Hurtado, Melissa Democratic Yea
Menjivar, Caroline Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Yea
Dahle, Megan Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety energy
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 420 do?
Existing law vests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) with regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical corporations, while local publicly owned electric utilities are under the direction of their governing boards. Existing law, implemented by the PUC through a general order, generally prohibits an electrical corporation from beginning the construction of a line, plant, or system, or of any extension thereof, without having first obtained from the commission a certificate that the present or future public convenience and necessity require or will require its construction, as specified. However, existing law exempts the extension, expansion, upgrade, or other modification of an existing electrical transmission facility, including transmission lines and substations, from that certification requirement. This bill would additionally exempt the rebuilding of an existing electrical transmission facility from that requirement, and would provide that the construction of a new electrical transmission facility, or the extension, expansion, upgrade, rebuilding, or other modification of an electrical transmission facility, including lines and substations, by an electrical corporation serving 10,000 or more retail customers does not require that certification, a permit to construct, or any other discretionary permit from the commission, if the new or modified electrical transmission facility meets certain requirements. The bill would also require the PUC, no later than January 1, 2025, to revise the general order to implement these changes, as specified. Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because certain provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and a violation of a commission action implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors SB 420?
SB 420 is sponsored by Becker, Josh (Democratic) and Muratsuchi, Al (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 420?
This bill died with 2023-2024 Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 420?
Track SB 420 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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