California Senate thwarts Assembly's attempt to renew cap-and-trade legislation
California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D) has been making efforts to extend the state's market-based climate protection program from 2030 to 2045. However, her proposed extension language has hit a snag in the Assembly.
As of Tuesday morning, the new bill (AB 710) with the extension language is yet to be printed, a delay that may affect the timeline of the extension language's consideration. The Senate currently controls the bill, as it has already passed the Assembly.
Irwin is pivoting to introduce the extension language into AB 710, a bill on gift card thefts. The process she is using to do this is called gut-and-amend, where the original bill's content is replaced with new proposed language.
However, the Senate refused to allow amendments to AB 1207, another bill, which means the extension language could not be inserted there. As a result, the extension language will not be printed as a new bill until the end of the week.
The success of the extension language depends on the support of Assemblymembers. Irwin needs to gain support from her own Assembly colleagues for the extension language. The process of gaining this support may slow down the momentum of the extension.
Moreover, the attempt to insert the extension language into AB 710 may expose potential fissures within the Assembly. If any fissures exist, they could potentially impact the success of the extension language.
The extension language will not be considered by the Senate until it has been approved by the Assembly. If Irwin manages to gain the necessary support and the bill is printed, it is expected to be in print by the end of the week.
The delay in the print of the new bill may impact the timeline of the extension language's consideration. If the bill is printed and passed by the Assembly, it will then be sent to the Senate for consideration. The momentum of the extension language may be impacted by the need to gain support from Assembly colleagues.
In conclusion, the extension of California's cap-and-trade program to 2045 is currently pending printing, with a potential print date of September 2025. The success of the extension depends on the support of Assemblymembers and the ability to navigate potential fissures within the Assembly.
