The Bipartisan Push Behind Assembly Bill 35
In November 2024, California voters passed Proposition 4, a historic $10 billion climate bond intended to fund vital projects for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparedness, and flood protection. However, a significant bureaucratic hurdle threatens to stall this progress. Without legislative intervention, communities might wait up to 18 months to see these much-needed funds due to the lengthy rulemaking process mandated by the state's Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
To solve this problem, the California Problem Solvers Caucus—a 22-member bipartisan, bicameral group dedicated to pragmatic policymaking—has officially endorsed Assembly Bill 35. Authored by Assemblymember and Caucus Co-Chair David Alvarez, AB 35 is designed to cut straight through this bureaucratic red tape. The legislation exempts Proposition 4 programs from the duplicative APA requirements, an exemption that was previously granted to other natural resource bonds like Proposition 1 and Proposition 68. Equipped with an urgency clause, AB 35 can take effect immediately upon the Governor's signature, ensuring that funds are distributed rapidly to shovel-ready clean water and wildfire projects.
Crucially, this prioritization of speed does not sacrifice government transparency or community priorities. Under AB 35, state entities must still publish draft project guidelines, ensure a minimum 30-day public comment period, respond to feedback, and offer essential consultation opportunities to any impacted tribes. As Assemblymember Alvarez emphasized, voters approved the climate bond for safer communities, "not more paperwork".
AB 35 exemplifies the power of cross-party collaboration. With co-authors including Caucus members Senator Suzette Martinez Valladares and Assemblymember Anamarie Ávila Farías, the bill demonstrates how lawmakers can set aside partisan ideology to deliver immediate, tangible results. By working together, the legislature can finally fulfill its promise to Californians by building a safer and more resilient state.