An author‑presented bill, AB 8 81, would establish state safety standards for transportation of carbon dioxide by pipeline so carbon capture, utilization and sequestration projects can proceed despite uncertainty at the federal level. The sponsor and industry supporters argued swift state standards are needed to access federal funds and meet the state's carbon removal targets.

"We need emerging technologies such as carbon capture and storage to close this gap," said Laura Lewis, chief legal and government affairs officer for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, which is backing the bill and described a proposed retrofit project to capture and sequester CO2 from a natural‑gas plant. Supporters said the federal process that would set national standards had stalled and California cannot wait if it expects to use federal funding and meet climate targets.

Environmental justice and community groups said the bill must require stronger protections than the draft federal regulations they cited. Eliana (last name not specified) of the Central California Environmental Justice Network opposed the bill unless amended, noting draft federal rules lack details on leak‑detection precision, emergency planning and do not require odorant or colorant for CO2 — measures she said are important for community safety. Local community members from Kern County similarly said pipelines raise safety and equity concerns for frontline communities.

Labor and industry witnesses — including the California Carbon Solutions Coalition, the State Association of Electrical Workers and State Building Trades — supported the bill as a pathway to capture projects, jobs and access to federal funding, while saying they were open to higher standards and additional community protections. A coalition witness noted the legislation is intended to incorporate the Biden‑era draft PHMSA standards into California law and to provide additional state oversight.

Committee action: the committee passed AB 8 81 to Natural Resources with a commitment to consider amendments in Natural Resources. Members asked the author to continue working with environmental justice groups on stronger implementation requirements.

Ending: The bill advances with a pledge by the author and sponsors to negotiate higher safety and community‑protection standards before final adoption.