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California 20252026

AB 2163

Energy: Strategic Clean Energy and Critical Mineral Development Zones.

Open original source Back to bills
Source: Open States / PluralUpdated 2026-09-12 13:12:55 UTC.

Official record

Measure details

Jurisdiction
California
Session
20252026
Chamber
lower
Classification
bill
Subjects
Energy, StrategicCleanEnergyandCriticalMineralDevelopmentZones
Introduced / first action
2026-02-18 00:00:00

Alternate titles

  • Electricity: Strategic Clean Energy and Critical Mineral Development Zones.
  • Electricity: County of Imperial and Lithium Valley.

Source-supplied abstracts

Existing law, the Warren-Alquist State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Act, establishes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and prescribes the authorities, duties, and responsibilities of the commission pertaining to energy matters. This bill would require the commission, in consultation with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and other relevant state agencies, to identify and designate Strategic Clean Energy and Critical Mineral Development Zones. The bill would authorize the county in which a proposed zone is located to submit a request for designation and would authorize the county board of supervisors to, by resolution, authorize the request for designation. The bill would authorize multiple counties to submit a request for designation if a proposed zone crosses the jurisdictional boundaries of the counties, as provided. The bill would require the commission to approve or deny a complete submission within 180 days. The bill would require a zone to consist only of geographic areas located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county submitting the request for designation and would require that certain criteria be satisfied, including that the zone be in an area identified by state or federal agencies as containing significant deposits or identified production potential of critical minerals used in battery, clean energy, or advanced manufacturing supply chains, as specified. The bill would require the commission to review the designated zones at least every 5 years and authorize the commission to update the designated zones as appropriate based on changes in energy resources, infrastructure, or economic development planning. The bill would require state agencies administering programs related to economic development, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, or critical mineral supply chains to give priority consideration to projects, infrastructure investments, and technical assistance located within designated zones that support large-scale clean energy production or energy-intensive industrial development. The bill would require the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to consider designated zones when administering programs intended to support advanced manufacturing, clean technology industries, energy storage supply chains, and other energy-intensive industries. The bill would authorize the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development to coordinate with the commission and other relevant state agencies to support site readiness, infrastructure development, and attracting investment within designated zones. The bill would require the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development and state agencies administering programs related to economic development, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, or critical mineral supply chains to give priority consideration to projects that will provide for the payment of prevailing wages, the employment of apprentices from state-approved projects, and the use of a skilled and trained workforce.

Sponsors

Source-supplied history

Actions

  1. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0.).

    amendment-passage, committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable

  2. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

  3. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).

    passage, reading-1, reading-3

  4. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1, reading-2, reading-3

  5. Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

    amendment-passage, reading-1, reading-2, reading-3

  6. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1, reading-2, reading-3

  7. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).

    committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable

  8. In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    referral-committee

  9. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable, referral-committee

  10. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on B. P. & E.D. (Ayes 17. Noes 0.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

    committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable, referral-committee

  11. Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and B. P. & E.D.

    referral-committee

  12. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    reading-1, referral-committee

  13. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.)

    passage, reading-1, reading-3

  14. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1, reading-2, reading-3

  15. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).

    committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable

  16. In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

    referral-committee

  17. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    referral-committee

  18. Read second time and amended.

    amendment-passage, reading-1, reading-2

  19. From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 18. Noes 0.) (April 22).

    amendment-introduction, amendment-passage, committee-passage, referral-committee

  20. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.

    committee-passage, committee-passage-favorable, referral-committee

  21. (Pending re-refer to Com. on U. & E.)

    referral-committee

  22. Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 4663.)

  23. Re-referred to Coms. on E.D., G., & H.I. and U. & E. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

    referral-committee

  24. Re-referred to Com. on U. & E.

    referral-committee

  25. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on U. & E. Read second time and amended.

    amendment-introduction, amendment-passage, committee-passage, reading-1, reading-2, referral-committee

  26. Referred to Com. on U. & E.

    referral-committee

  27. From printer. May be heard in committee March 21.

  28. Read first time. To print.

    reading-1

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Related measures

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