Administrative regulations: standardized regulatory impact analysis: State Air Resources Board.

Energy Housing Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Niello
Last action: 2026-04-24
Official status: Set for hearing May 4.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Standardized Regulatory Impact Analysis for Air Resources Board

This law requires the State Air Resources Board to include cost of living impacts in their regulatory impact analysis when proposing new regulations.

What This Bill Does

Requires the State Air Resources Board to prepare a standardized regulatory impact analysis when proposing new regulations.
Adds requirements for analyzing how new regulations will affect residents' daily expenses, such as gasoline and transportation costs.
Includes an assessment of electric bills, food prices, housing construction costs, and business expenses in the analysis.

Who It Names or Affects

The State Air Resources Board
Residents of California who pay for utilities, gas, and other daily living expenses
Businesses operating within California

Terms To Know

Standardized Regulatory Impact Analysis: A detailed report that looks at how new rules might affect people's lives and businesses.
State Air Resources Board: The government agency in California responsible for protecting the state’s air quality and reducing pollution.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify when exactly this new requirement will start.
Does not provide details on how to measure or report cost of living impacts.

Bill History

2026-04-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-17 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 22.
2026-03-18 California Legislative Information
March 18 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 3. Noes 1. Page 3600.) Reconsideration granted.
2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
2026-02-25 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing March 18.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on E.Q.
2026-02-05 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 7.
2026-02-04 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 981, as amended, Niello.
Administrative regulations: standardized regulatory impact analysis: State Air Resources Board.
Existing law designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency responsible for the preparation of the state implementation plan required by the Clean Air Act, and requires the state board to adopt standards, rules, and regulations that are consistent with the state goal of providing a decent home and suitable living environment for every Californian.
Existing law, the Administrative Procedure Act, sets forth the requirements for the adoption, publication, review, and implementation of regulations by state agencies. Existing law requires a state agency proposing to adopt, amend, or repeal a major regulation on or after November 1, 2013, to prepare a standardized regulatory impact analysis, as specified, that addresses, among other things, the competitive advantages or disadvantages for businesses currently doing business within the
state and the benefits to health, safety, and welfare of the regulations.
This bill would require a standardized regulatory impact analysis prepared by the State Air Resources Board to additionally address cost of living impacts on residents of the state, including, but not limited to, retail gasoline and transportation costs, consumer electric bills, consumer goods and food costs, housing and building construction costs, and costs to businesses.

Current Bill Text

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