Bill Text: CA AB72 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 72

Bill Title: Electric Vehicle Economic Opportunity Zone: County of Riverside.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Engrossed) 2026-06-17 - From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. [AB72 Detail]

Download: California-2025-AB72-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly January 05, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 72

Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson

December 12, 2024

~~An act to add Section 2601 to the Elections Code, relating to elections.~~ An act to add Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15564) to Part 8.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to electric vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 72, as amended, Jackson. ~~Elections: Bengali.~~ Electric Vehicle Economic Opportunity Zone: County of Riverside.

Existing law, the California Clean Energy Jobs Act, expresses a goal of creating good-paying energy efficiency and clean energy jobs in California. Existing law establishes in state government the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, under the supervision of the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, which consists of the Office of the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development and the California Workforce Development Board, among others. Existing law creates the position of Deputy Secretary for Climate within the agency, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, for the purpose of assisting in the oversight of California’s workforce transition to a sustainable and equitable carbon neutral economy.
This bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, establish an Electric Vehicle Economic Opportunity Zone (EVEOZ) for the County of Riverside, administered by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, for the purpose of creating programs to make electric vehicle manufacturing jobs and education more accessible to lower income communities. The bill would require the agency to collaborate with the County of Riverside in determining the geographical boundaries of the EVEOZ. By imposing additional duties on local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the agency to partner with educational institutions, electric vehicle manufacturing businesses, and local and national financial intuitions to develop EVEOZ education, training, and investment programs, as specified.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the County of Riverside.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing state and federal law, including the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, require the Secretary of State and county elections officials to provide language assistance to voters in order to access voting information, register to vote, and cast their votes at the polling place. Existing law requires a county elections official to provide a facsimile copy of the ballot with the ballot measures and ballot instructions printed in languages other than English if the Secretary of State has determined that doing so is appropriate, as specified.
This bill would require elections officials to provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it. By increasing duties on local elections officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 15564) is added to Part 8.5 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:

CHAPTER 4. Electric Vehicle Economic Opportunity Zone Pilot Program
15564.
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that, as Executive Order No. N-79-20 established the goal that 100 percent of in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks will be zero-emission by 2035, lower income communities will share in the economic benefits of the zero-emission vehicle industry, including electric vehicle manufacturing.
(b) (1) Upon appropriation by the Legislature, an Electric Vehicle Economic Opportunity Zone (EVEOZ) for the County of Riverside is hereby established to be administered by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency for the purpose of creating programs to make electric vehicle manufacturing jobs and education more accessible to lower income communities.
(2) The agency shall collaborate with the County of Riverside in determining the geographical boundaries of the EVEOZ.
(c) The agency may partner with educational institutions best fitted for educational and workforce development programs to develop EVEOZ education and training programs that may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(1) A fully accredited associate or bachelor’s collegiate electric vehicle manufacturing and engineering program.
(2) Workforce development related to electric vehicle and electric vehicle battery manufacturing.
(3) Career pathway, education, training, and support programs for electric vehicle manufacturing certification.
(4) Career pathway, education, training, and support programs for electric vehicle service technician development.
(5) Career pathway, education, training, and support programs for electric vehicle charging station installation and service.
(6) Electric vehicle apprenticeship programs.
(7) Engineering and manufacturing of the entire electric vehicle including, but not limited to, battery, safety equipment, electronics and computer coding, and other components necessary to electric vehicles.
(d) The agency may partner with electric vehicle manufacturing businesses and local and national financial intuitions to develop EVEOZ investment programs that may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(1) Incentives, including providing business loans, tax credits, and grants, to build, modify, or upgrade electric vehicle manufacturing facilities within the geographical boundaries of the EVEOZ.
(2) Hiring programs and corporate subsidies for companies to onboard, train, and retain workers who reside within the geographical boundaries of the EVEOZ.
(e) Any EVEOZ program developed pursuant to this section shall prioritize the recruitment and enrollment of workers or students of underprivileged economic status, as determined by the agency, that reside within the geographical boundaries of the EVEOZ.

SEC. 2.
The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution as Executive Order No. N-79-20 mandates the transition of the states automotive sales to be 100 percent zero-emissions vehicles, cultivating the workforce pipeline locally will financially benefit the state and build industry. Establishing an Electric Vehicle Economic Opportunity Zone (EVEOZ) in the County of Riverside would empower the people with economic and engineering skills, help make the transition to zero-emission vehicles more seamless, and would serve as a model for the establishment of future EVEOZs across the state.

SEC. 3.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

SECTION 1.Section 2601 is added to the Elections Code, to read:
2601.
An elections official shall provide a voter with registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, in Bengali if the voter requests it.
SEC. 2.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.