Oil and gas.

California Senate Bill 13 (SB13), introduced by Senator Shannon Grove in December 2024, aimed to enhance transparency regarding the origins of oil imported into California. The bill proposed that the California Energy Commission monitor and publicly disclose which foreign countries exporting oil to California have documented human rights abuses, as identified by the U.S. Department of State, and which have environmental standards for oil production that are lower than those of California. The bill sought to add Section 39619.9 to the Health and Safety Code to implement these provisions. However, SB13 did not pass; it was returned to the Secretary of the Senate on February 2, 2026, pursuant to Joint Rule 56, indicating it failed to advance through the legislative process.

Supporters of SB13 likely appreciated its intent to promote ethical sourcing of oil by increasing transparency about the human rights and environmental practices of oil-exporting countries. By requiring the California Energy Commission to identify and disclose such information, the bill aimed to inform consumers and policymakers, potentially encouraging the state to source oil from countries with higher standards. This approach could have aligned with California's broader environmental and human rights objectives, fostering more responsible consumption and procurement practices.

Critics of SB13 may have raised concerns about the practicality and implications of the proposed monitoring and disclosure requirements. They might have argued that the bill could strain diplomatic relations with oil-exporting countries by publicly highlighting their human rights and environmental shortcomings. Additionally, opponents could have contended that implementing such measures would increase administrative burdens on the California Energy Commission and potentially lead to higher oil prices if the state sought to limit imports from certain countries. There may also have been skepticism about the effectiveness of the bill in achieving meaningful change in global human rights and environmental practices.

Source: LegiScan roll call vote data.