SACRAMENTO, CA May 24, 2022 — Today, the California Senate advanced Senator Bill Dodd’s bill SB 852, sponsored by CivicWell and Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.

SB 852 will permit cities, counties, or special districts to establish climate resilience financing districts to undertake projects and programs to address climate change including wildfire, sea level rise, extreme heat and cold, drought, flooding, and related matters. The districts would be able to raise revenue through tax increment funding, voter-approved supplemental property taxes, property benefit assessments or fees. 

“Climate change presents enormous challenges which we can confront with this legislation,” said Sen. Dodd. “Helping communities develop plans to address these problems at the local level is critical. Also, our cities and counties must have clean-energy choices during power outages – often the result of our rapidly warming world. Today we take another step toward addressing the causes and effects of this pressing, existential threat.”

SB 852 was approved by the full Senate with overwhelming support and heads next to the Assembly.

“Nearly every day reminds us of the extreme threat that climate change poses.  SB 852 will give local communities and regions a way to take on the most important climate changes they face,” said Roger Dickinson, policy director for CivicWell. “We are delighted that, by approving SB 852, the Senate agrees that local governments need more tools to take strong and effective action to meet the challenge of climate change.”

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara added, “California needs action now to address today’s challenges and help prepare for its future. SB 852 is one major step towards reducing community-wide risks through climate resilience districts that will develop and implement necessary mitigation projects tailored to local needs. Today’s vote in the Senate brings us closer to making much-needed investments to protect vulnerable communities, which was a key goal of our climate insurance report, and I commend Sen. Dodd for his leadership in authoring SB 852.”