Central OC Times

Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) expressed her disappointment at the Transportation Committee’s decision regarding Assembly Bill 3153 and Assembly Bill 2626. Dixon highlighted the implications of these decisions on businesses in California, particularly the Balboa Island Ferry and local government agencies.

"AB 3153 would have simply offered more time to find funding and new-to-the world technology to comply. It is but one example of California regulating businesses out of business," Dixon stated, referring to the challenges faced by the Balboa Island Ferry in meeting California Air Resources Board's electrification regulations.

Regarding Assembly Bill 2626, Dixon emphasized that it aimed to provide a 10-year extension for local government agencies to comply with the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation. She noted, "These bills are both common sense extensions for private and public entities to meet expensive and potentially impossible state mandates."

Dixon also raised concerns about the decision-making process within the California Air Resources Board, stating, "The California Air Resources Board, the state’s powerful regulatory agency, makes decisions with limited input from the Legislature."

Looking ahead, Dixon expressed her determination to continue working on the issue and proposed revisiting the bills in the future. She affirmed, "I look forward to working on the issue further and plan to come back next year and try again to help save business and cities in California from onerous regulations that are killing budgets."

In conclusion, Assemblymember Dixon's advocacy reflects a broader effort to address the impact of stringent regulations on businesses and communities in California.