SB 1418: Hydrogen-fueling stations: expedited review.

Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires every city, county, and city and county to administratively approve an application to install electric vehicle charging stations and hydrogen-fueling stations through the issuance of a building permit or similar nondiscretionary permit.

Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each city, county, and city and county to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for electric vehicle charging stations. Existing law authorizes a city, county, or city and county developing an ordinance to refer to the recommendations contained in the most current version of the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Permitting Checklist, as specified. Existing law requires a city, county, and city and county, in developing the expedited permitting process, to adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations must comply to be eligible for expedited review.

For these purposes, existing law defines hydrogen-fueling station to mean the equipment used to store and dispense hydrogen fuel to vehicles according to industry codes and standards that is open to the public. Existing law requires a hydrogen-fueling station to meet certain requirements, including any rules established by the State Air Resources Board, Energy Commission, or Department of Food and Agriculture regarding safety, reliability, weights, and measures.

This bill would modify the definition of hydrogen-fueling station to mean the equipment and structural design components necessary to ensure the safety of the fueling station, including hydrogen-refueling canopies, that are used to store and dispense hydrogen fuel to vehicles according to industry codes and standards that are open to the public. This bill would modify the requirements a hydrogen-fueling station must meet to include all applicable state laws and regulations pertaining to hydrogen fueling, including any rules established by the State Air Resources Board, Energy Commission, or Department of Food and Agriculture regarding safety, reliability, weights, and measures.

This bill would require every city, county, or city and county to adopt an ordinance that creates an expedited, streamlined permitting process for certain hydrogen-fueling stations, as specified. This bill would authorize a city, county, or city and county developing an ordinance to refer to the recommendations contained in the most current version of the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook or the Hydrogen Station Permitting Guidebook, as specified. The bill would require a city, county, and city and county, in developing the expedited permitting process, to adopt a checklist of all requirements with which hydrogen-fueling stations must comply to be eligible for expedited review. The bill would require a city, county, or city and county with a population of 250,000 or more residents to comply with these provisions on or before September 30, 2025, and would require a city, county, or city and county with a population of fewer than 250,000 residents to comply with these provisions by September 30, 2028. By imposing additional duties on cities, counties, and cities and counties, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would repeal these provisions, except with regard to a city, county, or city and county being authorized to refer to the recommendations contained in the most current version of the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permitting Guidebook, on January 1, 2030.

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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.