AB 72: Electric Vehicle Economic Opportunity Zone: County of Riverside.
This bill aims to create an electric vehicle economic opportunity zone (EVEOZ) in the county of Riverside to make electric vehicle manufacturing jobs and education more accessible to lower-income communities. The Labor and Workforce Development Agency will administer the program, collaborating with local institutions and businesses to develop education, training, and investment programs. The agency will determine the geographical boundaries of the EVEOZ with the county. The bill also establishes partnerships with educational institutions, electric vehicle manufacturing businesses, and financial institutions to support the EVEOZ. The state will reimburse local agencies and school districts for costs mandated by the state if the commission determines that the bill contains such costs.
| Aug. 13, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Aug. 03, 2026 | In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Jun. 17, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jun. 08, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L., P.E. & R. (Ayes 8. Noes 1.) (June 8). Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R. |
| May. 06, 2026 | Referred to Coms. on B. P. & E.D. and L., P.E. & R. |
| Amended IN Assembly January 05, 2026 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson |
December 12, 2024 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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.
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.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.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.
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.