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SVCE staff brief board on two bills affecting local building policies and reaffirm support for city reach-code actions through Oct. 1 window
Summary
Government affairs staff reported that SB 540 (regional energy markets) advanced in the Legislature and that AB 306 (a proposed moratorium on local reach codes) was amended to delay its start date to Oct. 1, giving local governments a potential final window to adopt reach codes; staff offered technical assistance to member jurisdictions.
Silicon Valley Clean Energy staff updated the board on state legislation and local agency outreach on June 11, reporting progress on a regional energy-market bill and a narrow window for jurisdictions to adopt local reach codes before an announced moratorium.
Bennett Chang, government affairs director, told the board that SB 540 (Becker), a bill to form a new governing body intended to facilitate energy trading across western states, passed the California Senate 36-0 and was under consideration in the Assembly. Staff said they are working with coalition partners to refine bill language to reassure other Western states that the governing body would not supersede state energy policy.
Chang also briefed the board on AB 306 (Schultz and Rivas), described in staff materials as a moratorium on state and local building reach codes. Staff said amendments posted the day of the meeting did not address SVCE's principal request (to allow local governments to adopt existing reach codes), but one amendment moved the moratorium start date from June to Oct. 1. Staff described Oct. 1 as a potential final window for local jurisdictions to adopt reach codes before the moratorium takes effect.
Separately, staff summarized the Local Agency Action Planning (LAAP) outreach completed with member jurisdictions. Staff said 13 action plans have been prepared to help cities adopt electrification measures and other reach-code actions; staff offered model code language, technical assistance and a ready team to support jurisdictions that choose to adopt rules before the Oct. 1 deadline.
Staff asked boards and agency staff to contact the SVCE policy team for targeted assistance; presentations and model code drafts are available. The LAAP work will continue, with staff outreach to jurisdiction staff and electeds over the summer.
Ending: Staff said it will continue legislative advocacy on SB 540 and AB 306 and will support member agencies that want to act on reach codes before the Oct. 1 window, returning to the board if additional advocacy or action is needed.
