Governor Signs Sen. Dodd’s Climate Resilience Bill

SACRAMENTO – California Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed legislation from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that will address the effects of climate change, including sea-level rise and wildfire, through creation of local resilience districts to undertake and promote conservation efforts.

“Today we take a significant step toward confronting the numerous challenges posed by our rapidly changing climate,” Sen. Dodd said. “This new law will make our state safer and more resilient because it helps communities take direct action on problems most relevant to their region. I thank the governor and all those who supported this bill for helping California address this existential threat.”

Sen. Dodd’s legislation, Senate Bill 852, will allow cities, counties or special districts, either alone or in combination, establish climate resilience financing districts to undertake projects and programs to address climate change including wildfire, sea level rise, extreme heat and cold, drought, flooding, and related matters.  The districts will be able to raise revenue through tax increment funding, voter-approved supplemental property taxes, property benefit assessments or fees. 

SB 852 was co-sponsored by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and CivicWell. It was also supported by Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, Napa Valley Transportation Authority, the Nature Conservancy and more than two dozen other local government, business and environmental organizations. It passed the Assembly and Senate with overwhelming support before being signed into law by the governor.

“As a proud co-sponsor of SB 852, I commend Sen. Dodd for authoring this important measure that takes a major step towards reducing community-wide risks by authorizing the creation of climate resilience districts across California, to help communities mitigate risk in advance of a disaster and promote their recovery,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “SB 852 also promotes a recommendation from my department’s first-ever climate insurance report that would improve access to insurance for all, so that we can better prepare ourselves from increasing climate change-related threats.”

“As the obvious impacts of climate change intensify and expand, local governments occupy the frontlines in responding,” said Roger Dickinson, policy director of CivicWell. “We are delighted that Gov. Newsom has signed SB 852 which will provide local governments the ability to plan, finance and implement climate resilience projects critically needed in our communities.  We extend our greatest thanks to Sen. Dodd for his steadfast work and leadership in shepherding the bill through the Legislature.”

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.