Panel advances SB 675 to restructure Imperial County air district board and increase transparency

The committee voted to advance SB 675, a bill that would restructure the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District governing board to add five elected city council members and four public members with expertise in agricultural labor, environmental justice and public health. The bill would also require the district to publish pollution data, permit applications and enforcement dispositions online.

Senator Padilla, the bill’s author, said Imperial County suffers some of the worst air quality in the state and that the proposed governance changes mirror reforms adopted previously for San Diego County. Dr. Ida Obeso Martinez, mayor of Imperial, and resident Christian Salgado spoke in support, describing public-health harms, high childhood asthma hospitalization rates and limited opportunities for meaningful public participation under the current structure.

Opponents — including Bella Leon of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, John Kendrick of the California Chamber of Commerce, trade associations and industry representatives — said the bill could impose unfunded mandates, raise administrative burdens, and create permitting uncertainty that could deter investment. The air district’s executive expressed concern that the district lacks the staffing and funding to meet the bill’s transparency and governance requirements.

After oral debate and closing remarks from the author emphasizing accountability and the district’s poor air-quality record, the committee adopted a motion to move SB 675 "do pass as amended to appropriations." The roll call in the transcript recorded multiple ayes and several no votes; the bill was advanced for further review.