SACRAMENTO—A bill by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) that safeguards local governments' authority to protect residents from oil and gas pollution secured approval in its first policy hearing.
Assembly Bill 3233, the Local Environmental Choice and Safety Act, passed out of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee with a final vote of 8-3.
"It's time to allow local communities to be active participants in protecting their communities and meeting California's climate goals," said Addis. "We are one step closer to cities and counties like Monterey being able to make decisions for the health, welfare, and economics of their residents by saying no to oil and gas production."
AB 3233 is sponsored by the Center for Biological Diversity, and has garnered support from a wide-ranging coalition of environmental, health, and community advocates.
The bill now awaits its next policy committee hearing in the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee.
Dawn Addis was elected to the California State Assembly in 2022 to represent the coastal 30th Assembly District, which includes San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.
CONTACT: Julie Cravotto, 916-319-2030