Assemblymember Holden’s Bills Move Through Policy Committees

Sacramento, CA – This week, several of Assemblymember Chris Holden’s bills passed Assembly policy committees: AB 43- Greenhouse gas emissions: building materials: embodied carbon-trading system; AB 249- Water: school sites: lead testing, AB 323- Density Bonus Law: purchase of density bonus units by nonprofit housing organizations: civil action; and AB 647- Grocery workers.

“In order to address the needs of Californians today, we have to listen to the needs of our communities. I hope to work with my colleagues in the legislature as these bills continue to move through the legislative process,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden.

AB 43 requires the Air Resources Board (ARB) to develop a market-based embodied carbon trading system to facilitate compliance with the state’s strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of building materials by 40% by 2035.

AB 249 requires a community water system that serves a school site to test for lead in each of the school site’s potable water system outlets on or before January 1, 2027. If the lead level exceeds five parts per billion (ppb), this bill requires the local educational agency (LEA) or school to take immediate steps to make inoperable and shut down from use all fountains and faucets where the excess lead levels may exist, and ensures that a potable source of drinking water is provided for pupils.

AB 323 states that a developer cannot offer a unit constructed pursuant to a local inclusionary zoning ordinance that is intended for owner-occupancy to a purchaser that intends to rent the unit to extremely low, very low, low-, and moderate-income families, unless the developer can prove that none of the applicants for owner-occupancy can qualify for the unit as an owner-occupant pursuant to the income limitations.

AB 647 increases the recall and retention periods under existing law for grocery workers affected by the purchase or sale of a grocery retailer from 90 to 120 days, and creates a private right of action for aggrieved employees as well as a right of action for the Labor Commissioner to enforce the proposed provisions.

“I am committed to the integrity of my legislative package. These bills are a product of the concerns voiced by my constituents. It is also a demonstration that I have heard my district community and Californians at large,” said Holden.