Introduction

In 2024, BlueGreen Alliance California (BGA CA) continued its leadership in clean manufacturing and environmental stewardship, supporting a variety of bills this legislative session. Given the tough budget year, we’re proud of the strides BGA CA and our partners were able to make, including saving the High Road Training Partnership program. Below, the team proudly highlights key legislative achievements that underscore our commitment to sustainable job creation and a cleaner future for all Californians. 

Legislative Highlights 

AB 3190 (Haney)+ – Closes the loopholes in the state’s public works law that prevent construction workers on affordable housing projects from receiving a prevailing wage. As a result, it will ensure all construction workers receive adequate wages and help the state meet its housing goals. The bill was signed by Gov. Newsom in September 2024.  

AB 3258 (Bryan)+ – Sponsored by BGA CA partner USW, this bill was signed into law to require the Cal/OSHA Standards Board to expand Process Safety Management (PSM) for Petroleum Refineries, to include refineries that are now processing renewable and other feedstocks in place of petroleum. This bill will make said facilities safer for all refinery workers. Governor Newsom signed the bill in September 2024.  

SB 1182 (Gonzalez)* – BGA CA partner California Federation of Teachers (CFT) sponsored this bill that would have created a plan to decarbonize school buildings and create a healthy environment for students. The goal was to create a plan to identify the most efficient ways to make these updates for climate-resilient schools. While the bill did not pass, given a difficult budget year, BGA and its partners will continue to find ways to advocate for clean and healthy communities in the future. 

SB 1321 (Wahab)+ – Sponsored by BGA CA labor partners SMART and the California Labor Federation, this bill will make necessary updates to the Employment Training Panel to increase transparency and ensure public funding creates high-road jobs. This bill was signed by Governor Newsom in September 2024. 

SB 1337 (Gonzalez)* – This bill was sponsored by BGA CA coalition partner the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and would have enacted important transparency updates to the referendum process. The goal of the bill was to ensure that voters have access to relevant information before agreeing to sign a petition. Empowering voters to view the referendum transparently would have allowed for more informed decision-making, and BGA CA will continue to support our partners in future work on this topic. 

SB 984 (Wahab)* – This bill would have authorized a state agency to undertake a major state construction project only if 1) that project is governed by a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and 2) if that PLA includes community benefit goals and apprenticeships. This bill would have ensured blue-collar construction jobs provide family-sustaining wages, and BGA CA will continue to work in the future to ensure PLAs are attached to projects whenever possible. 

SB 1325 (Durazo)*– This bill would have maximized the benefits of public investments by empowering agencies to use best-value procurement for public purchases. Best-value procurement is a comprehensive policy framework that empowers government entities to consider important factors, such as community and environmental benefits when determining successful bidders. This procurement model has successfully created good jobs and strengthened communities in California, and despite this bill not passing, BGA CA will continue to work with partners on similar policies in the future. 

SB 1375 (Durazo)*– This bill would have created the Equity, Climate Resilience, and Quality Jobs Fund in the state treasury for a deposit of 2% of all Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Sciences Act, and Inflation Reduction Act funds. These funds would have been available to the California Workforce Development Board to invest in sector-based workforce development programs through HRTPs, High Road Construction Careers, and other workforce programs that drive poverty-reducing standards and reach communities with the highest barriers to employment and economic equity. Unfortunately, this bill did not pass because of existing investments and support for the Workforce Development Board. 

+Signed into law 

*Did not pass 

Conclusion 

The BlueGreen Alliance celebrates these achievements and remains committed to working alongside our partners in California to drive further progress in clean energy and manufacturing. 

Together, we can create a prosperous future for all Californians.