Assembly BillVetoedPublic Resources
AB 734: Environmental protection: biological resources data: State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: powerplants: power lines: applications.
What AB 734 does, verified March 9, 2026
This bill requires the state energy resources conservation and development commission to make biological resources data publicly available on its docket for applications related to the construction or operation of certain powerplants and electrical transmission lines. However, if the department of fish and wildlife determines that releasing certain location data could pose a significant risk to a specific species, the data will only be made available in a limited form. The department must provide a written assessment of the maximum amount of data that can be released without posing a risk to the species. The bill also applies the same public availability requirements to biological resources data submitted for applications related to eligible solar photovoltaic or terrestrial wind electrical generating powerplants with a generating capacity of 50 megawatts or more.
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Last action: Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. (2026-01-22)Alert me
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| Jan. 22, 2026 | Consideration of Governor's veto stricken from file. |
| Jan. 22, 2026 | Stricken from file. |
| Oct. 01, 2025 | Consideration of Governor's veto pending. |
| Oct. 01, 2025 | Vetoed by Governor. |
| Sep. 09, 2025 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. |
Latest bill textEnrolled version, September 5, 2025 · 874 words
| Enrolled September 05, 2025 |
| Passed IN Senate September 03, 2025 |
| Passed IN Assembly June 02, 2025 |
| Amended IN Assembly April 21, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 734
| Introduced by Assembly Member Schultz (Coauthor: Assembly Member Caloza) |
February 18, 2025 |
An act to add Sections 25544 and 25545.17 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental protection.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 734, Schultz. Environmental protection: biological resources data: State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission: powerplants: power lines: applications.
Existing law vests the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission with the power to certify locations on which an electrical transmission line or thermal powerplant is constructed, or is proposed to be constructed, except as provided. Existing law authorizes the commission to exempt from certification a thermal powerplant with a generating capacity of up to 100 megawatts, and modifications to existing generating facilities that do not add capacity in excess of 100 megawatts if the commission finds that no substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources will result from the construction or operation of the proposed facility or from the modifications.
This bill would require any biological resources data submitted to the commission in an application for certification or small powerplant exemption pursuant to the above-described provisions to be made publicly available on the commission’s docket as part of the certification proceeding unless the Department of Fish and Wildlife makes a written determination that the data to be made public includes specified location data, the disclosure of which would pose a significant risk to individuals of the species. The bill would require the department, if it makes that determination, to include in the written determination an assessment of the maximum amount of the specified data that can be released without posing a risk to the species. The bill would require the department to provide its written determination to the commission and would require the commission to make the data, in accordance with the determination, available to the public on the commission’s docket.
Existing law, until June 30, 2029, authorizes a person proposing an eligible facility, including a solar photovoltaic or terrestrial wind electrical generating powerplant with a generating capacity of 50 megawatts or more, to submit an application with the commission for certification of the site and related facility.
This bill would apply the same public availability requirements described above to biological resources data submitted to the commission as part of an application for certification of an eligible facility.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 25544 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:25544.
(a) For the purposes of this section, “biological resources data” means information pertaining to species and their habitats, including, but not limited to, observations, surveys, scientific studies, species needs, and habitat conditions, and including maps on a scale of one inch equals 500 feet.(b) Notwithstanding any other law, any biological resources data submitted to the commission as part of an application for certification pursuant to this chapter, or exemption from this chapter pursuant to Section 25541, shall be made available to the public on the commission’s docket as part of a certification proceeding unless the Department of Fish and Wildlife makes a written determination that the data to be made public includes location data derived from the California Natural Diversity Database, the disclosure of which would pose a significant risk to individuals of the species. If the Department of Fish and Wildlife makes that determination, it shall include in the written determination an assessment of the maximum amount of data from the California Natural Diversity Database that can be released without posing a significant risk to the species. The Department of Fish and Wildlife shall provide its written determination to the commission, and the commission shall make the data available to the public on its docket in accordance with the determination.
SEC. 2.
Section 25545.17 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:25545.17.
(a) For the purposes of this section, “biological resources data” means information pertaining to species and their habitats, including, but not limited to, observations, surveys, scientific studies, species needs, and habitat conditions, and including maps on a scale of one inch equals 500 feet.(b) Notwithstanding any other law, any biological resources data submitted to the commission as part of an application for certification pursuant to this chapter shall be made available to the public on the commission’s docket as part of a certification proceeding unless the Department of Fish and Wildlife makes a written determination that the data to be made public includes location data derived from the California Natural Diversity Database, the disclosure of which would pose a significant risk to individuals of the species. If the Department of Fish and Wildlife makes that determination, it shall include in the written determination an assessment of the maximum amount of data from the California Natural Diversity Database that can be released without posing a significant risk to the species. The Department of Fish and Wildlife shall provide its written determination to the commission, and the commission shall make the data available to the public on its docket in accordance with the determination.
Text of AB 734 as enrolled, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions