Bill > SB227

This bill extends and expands the Green Empowerment Zone (GEZ) for the Northern Waterfront area of Contra Costa County, which is designed to leverage the region's skilled energy industry workforce by providing tax incentives, grants, and investment opportunities in the renewable energy sector. The bill extends the zone's authorization from January 1, 2028, to January 1, 2040, and allows four additional cities (El Cerrito, Pinole, Richmond, and San Pablo) to join the existing nine cities and Contra Costa County. The bill modifies the board of directors' composition by adding an eighth stakeholder group of seven directors representing environmental and environmental justice organizations. It also introduces a process for cities or counties to remove themselves from the zone while preserving existing benefits, renames the steering committee to the executive committee, and adjusts reporting requirements. The metrics for tracking the zone's progress will now be developed by January 1, 2026, and must be posted annually on the GEZ's website starting July 1, 2026. The bill includes provisions for board member terms, attendance, and conflict of interest management, and is declared an urgency statute to take effect immediately to support the zone's continued economic development efforts.

Business and Industry, Education, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB227