California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California AB 531
Geothermal powerplants and projects: certification and environmental review.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Rogers (Democratic)
Cosponsors (1)
- Papan (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary
Existing law establishes and vests in the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) various responsibilities with respect to developing and implementing the state's energy policies. Existing law authorizes persons proposing specified electrical generation, electrical transmission, hydrogen production, and energy storage projects to apply, on or before June 30, 2029, to the Energy Commission to certify sites and related facilities as environmental leadership development projects, as specified. Existing law makes a site and related facility certified by the Energy Commission subject to streamlining benefits related to CEQA with no further action by the applicant or the Governor. Under existing law, the Energy Commission's certification is in lieu of any permit, certificate, or similar document required by any governmental agency and supersedes any applicable statute, ordinance, or regulation, except as specified.
This bill would expand the types of facilities eligible to be certified as environmental leadership development projects by the Energy Commission to include geothermal powerplants and projects that comprise multiple geothermal powerplants on a single site.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 25545 of the Public Resources Code proposed by SB 254 to be operative only if this bill and SB 254 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
Text versions
- 10/06/25 - Chaptered· Oct 6, 2025
- 09/16/25 - Enrolled· Sep 16, 2025
- 09/05/25 - Amended Senate· Sep 5, 2025
- 07/07/25 - Amended Senate· Jul 7, 2025
- 02/11/25 - Introduced· Feb 11, 2025
- AB531
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:04 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 13, 2025 House | AB 531 Rogers Concurrence in Senate Amendments | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Sep 11, 2025 Senate | 3rd Reading AB531 Rogers et al. By Becker | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 29, 2025 Senate | Do pass | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 18, 2025 Senate | Placed on suspense file | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jul 16, 2025 Senate | Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jul 1, 2025 Senate | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Environmental Quality] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 2, 2025 House | AB 531 Rogers Assembly Third Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 23, 2025 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 21, 2025 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 2, 2025 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Natural Resources] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Oct 6, 2025 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 372, Statutes of 2025. - Oct 6, 2025 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Sep 24, 2025 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. - Sep 12, 2025 · House
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 69. Noes 4. Page 3433.). - Sep 12, 2025 · House
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. - Sep 11, 2025 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 1. Page 2888.). - Sep 8, 2025 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Sep 5, 2025 · Senate
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading. - Aug 29, 2025 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 29, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (August 29). - Aug 18, 2025 · Senate
In committee: Referred to suspense file. - Jul 16, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jul 7, 2025 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q. - Jul 3, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on E.Q. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (July 1). - Jun 11, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and E.Q. - Jun 3, 2025 · Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. - Jun 2, 2025 · House
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1835.) - May 27, 2025 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - May 23, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 23). - May 14, 2025 · House
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file. - Apr 22, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Apr 3, 2025 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 2). Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES. - Mar 3, 2025 · House
Referred to Coms. on U. & E. and NAT. RES. - Feb 12, 2025 · House
From printer. May be heard in committee March 14. - Feb 11, 2025 · House
Read first time. To print.