Press Releases

As a result of the Governor’s signature on AB 841 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), new green jobs are on the horizon that will not only put people back to work, but also lead to healthier schools and a greener transportation sector.

“Many Californians are struggling right now, and we need job creation. My bill jumpstarts projects that can begin in a matter of months and pay good wages, providing stability to families and helping the state’s economic recovery,” said Ting.

AB 841 has two components. First, it temporarily redirects unspent energy efficiency funds from investor-owned utility companies and creates a grant program for schools in need of upgrading their HVAC systems and water fixtures. Poor ventilation is known to have negative impacts on student health and learning. And since the onset of COVID-19, experts recommend increasing the air flow in public schools to reduce the spread of the virus. Campuses in low-income communities would receive first priority.

In addition, grants can be used to replace old plumbing ducts, which often leech lead into students’ drinking water. New pipes will also improve water conservation, saving up to six billion gallons a year.

"Now is precisely the time California should be improving access to clean air and water in our schools," said Merrian Borgeson, a senior scientist at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "Our children deserve to learn in safe schools, and this new program will make that possible."

The second component of AB 841 pertains to the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, requiring the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to act on long-pending applications by March 1, 2021. The current years-long backlog is slowing work orders, and faster approvals would increase the demand for EVs. Consumers have often said they won’t switch to a cleaner car because there are not enough charging stations along our roads. Added locations would help more drivers overcome “range anxiety” and make the transition – a move that lowers our greenhouse gas emissions and ramps up our fight against global warming.

AB 841 takes effect January 1, 2021, achieving a priority from the Joint Economic Stimulus Plan unveiled in July – to improve the environment, combat climate change, and create green infrastructure and jobs.

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To ensure California maximizes housing within its residential areas, homeowners associations (HOAs) will no longer be able to prohibit rentals under a bill signed by the Governor today. AB 3182 by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) closes important loopholes that have enabled subdivisions and condominium complexes to shut out tenants.

“We’re in a housing crisis right now, and homeowners are prevented from renting their properties or adding a rental unit in many housing developments governed by HOAs. This cannot continue, and the Governor’s signature opens up opportunities for desperately needed housing,” said Ting.

Ting’s bill allows more Californians to be part of the solution to the housing shortage. AB 3182 voids any existing HOA rules banning rentals and prohibits the implementation of new ones. They would, however, be able to cap the number of rentals at 25% of the total housing units, in order for property owners to remain eligible for federal home loans and insurance. Limits on short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb are also permitted.

In addition, rental bans prevent homeowners from adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) onto their property. These backyard units or additions to existing buildings have grown in popularity because they’re an affordable way to keep aging parents close by or generate rental income.

"By prohibiting bans on tenants in homeowners associations, AB 3182 opens up more high opportunity areas to renters in California, and helps homeowners build and rent their ADUs. Ending California's housing crisis requires building more housing, especially in high opportunity neighborhoods, and protecting renters. California YIMBY applauds Assemblymember Ting for his critical work furthering home-building and tenants' rights and was honored to sponsor AB 3182," said Brian Hanlon, CEO of California YIMBY.

A second bill by Ting, signed by the Governor last week, enables local jurisdictions to address homelessness faster through AB 2553. Upon declaration of a “shelter crisis,” all cities and counties would have the authority to temporarily suspend some regulatory roadblocks that typically slow or prevent the construction of emergency housing and implementation of safe parking programs. This builds upon the success of a pilot program created under Ting’s AB 932 in 2017, which granted similar powers to Berkeley, Emeryville, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, the County of Santa Clara, and the City and County of San Francisco, enabling them to swiftly increase their shelter capacity.

AB 2553 was an urgency measure and took effect immediately. AB 3182 becomes law on January 1, 2021,

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Sacramento –Building on its record of environmental leadership, California enacted the country’s first minimum recycled content standards for plastic CRV bottles. Governor Newsom today signed AB 793 by Assemblymembers Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), requiring manufacturers to begin gradually phasing-in recycled materials when making plastic beverage containers. By 2030, the timeline ultimately reaches a 50% threshold - the highest in the world, surpassing the 30% mandate in the European Union (EU).

“At the rate we were going, plastic waste would outnumber the fish in our oceans by 2050. The Governor’s signature means the time has come for companies to step up and help us be good environmental stewards. By boosting the market for used plastics, fewer containers will end up as litter,” said Ting. 

The dwindling U.S. demand for recycled plastic has led, in part, to the tidal wave of recycling center closures in California, leaving consumers with fewer places to take their bottles and cans. At the same time, international markets are no longer interested in buying California’s recycled waste, leading to piles of recyclable plastic in our warehouses, landfills and environment. Data from CalRecycle shows that 12.7 billion CRV bottles were sold in the state last year, but 27% were not recycled – that’s 3.4 billion containers.

 AB 793’s timeline is as follows and applies to plastic drink bottles sold in California, regardless of where the containers were made:

“Assemblymember Ting and I worked extensively with the industry stakeholders to ensure that this bill is both bold and workable.  The result is the most aggressive recycled content mandate in the world for plastic bottles – 50% by 2030. Even the European Union, with its leadership on many environmental fronts, is only aiming for 30% by 2030.  I commend the Governor for signing this audacious bill,” said Irwin.

The 50 percent recycled content requirement in AB 793 is the most ambitious closed loop recycling requirement in the world. With this signing, 50 percent is now the model for other states and nations, and should be the model for all plastic packaging in California going forward,” said Mark Murray, Executive Director of the environmental group Californians Against Waste.

Other states could potentially benefit from AB 793 if companies decide they don’t want to use one formula for plastic bottles sold in California, then reconfigure production lines for the rest of the country. If that’s the case, even more sustainable containers could end up in new markets.

Some brands have already moved in this direction. Naked Juice, for instance, has been using plastic bottles made with 100% post-consumer recycled content since 2010, proving the change can be done. Nestle Waters North America and Coca-Cola have also committed to using more recycled plastic over the next few years.

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