SDCTA Review of Senate Bill 375
Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 375 (SB 375) (Steinberg) in September 2008. The stated purpose of this bill is to integrate land use and transportation planning to achieve the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets set by Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) (Núñez), the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. AB 32 requires the State of California (State) to reduce its GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. This amounts to 5 million metric tons (MMT) of statewide carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions from light duty trucks and passenger vehicles. Under AB 32, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the entity responsible for monitoring and reducing GHG emissions. Since AB 32 provided a general goal for GHG emission reductions, other methods were recommended to achieve specific area reductions. SB 375 is an attempt to reduce the significant portion of transportation-attributed emissions. SB 375 requires the setting of regional GHG emissions targets for 2020 and 2035. Amidst all of the confusion surrounding SB 375 and its far-reaching implications, there is an effort through current legislation, SB 575 (Steinberg) to clarify SB 375's provisions. The bill specifically addresses the housing element due dates in an effort to smooth the transition for SANDAG to the new housing element schedule under SB 375.