FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2023

Proposed Initiative Enters Circulation

Increases State Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals.
Initiative Statute.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber announced that the proponent of a new initiative was cleared to begin collecting petition signatures on September 18, 2023.

The Attorney General prepares the legal title and summary that is required to appear on initiative petitions. When the official language is complete, the Attorney General forwards it to the proponent and to the Secretary of State, and the initiative may be circulated for signatures. The Secretary of State then provides a calendar of deadlines to the proponent and to county elections officials. The Attorney General’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows:

INCREASES STATE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION GOALS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Increases state’s target for reduction of statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 95% below 1990 levels by 2045 (instead of 85%). Removes current requirement that state use Cap-and-Trade Program (which sets overall limits and allows producers to buy and sell emissions credits) to achieve 2030 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas production and refining. Instead, requires regulations that achieve the maximum feasible and cost-effective reduction to meet target. Allows local regulators to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from stationary sources (e.g., refineries, factories, power plants) more strictly than the state. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased state costs, totaling billions of dollars annually, to meet new greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Increased local government costs of an unknown magnitude to comply with new regulations adopted as a result of this measure. Potential reduction in various annual state and local government revenues of an uncertain amount depending on how the measure’s implementation impacts the oil and gas sector. (23-0012.)

The Secretary of State’s tracking number for this measure is 1954 and the Attorney General's tracking number is 23-0012.

The proponent of the measure, Micah J. Perlin, must collect signatures of 546,651 registered voters (five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2022 general election) in order for the measure to become eligible for the ballot. The proponent has 180 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials no later than March 18, 2024. The contact information for the proponent is Micah Perlin, email@climatevoters.us, and (858) 905-0676.

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