SB86 - California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority Act: sales and use tax exclusion.

Senate Bill No. 86 CHAPTER 211 An act to amend Sections 26003, 26011.8, and 26025 of the Public Resources Code, and to amend Section 6010.8 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, relating to public resources, to take effect immediately, tax levy. [ Approved by Governor October 01, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 01, 2025. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 86, McNerney. California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority Act: sales and use tax exclusion. Existing sales and use tax laws impose taxes on retailers measured by the gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property sold at retail in this state, or on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property purchased from a retailer for storage, use, or other consumption in this state. The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority Act establishes the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority. The act authorizes, until January 1, 2026, the authority to provide financial assistance to a participating party by authorizing exclusions from sales and use tax for certain projects, including those that promote California-based manufacturing, California-based jobs, advanced manufacturing, the reduction of greenhouse gases, or a reduction in air and water pollution or energy consumption. The Sales and Use Tax Law, for the purposes of the taxes imposed pursuant to that law, until January 1, 2026, excludes the lease or transfer of title of tangible personal property constituting one of those projects to any contractor for use in the performance of a construction contract for a participating party that will use that property as an integral part of the approved project. This bill would extend to January 1, 2028, the authorization to provide financial assistance in the form of a sales and use tax exclusion for projects approved by the authority. The bill would add electrical generation facilities using nuclear fusion technology to the types of projects qualifying for this sales and use tax exclusion. The bill would, on and after January 1, 2026, for an applicant that, together with its parent corporation and subsidiaries, employs 500 or more employees, prohibit the authority from approving a project unless the applicant certifies that the applicant and its subcontractors will comply with certain labor requirements. The bill would make other conforming changes. This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 26003 of the Public Resources Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 690 of the Statutes of 2019, is amended to read: 26003. (a) As used in this division, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) (A) “Advanced manufacturing” means manufacturing processes that improve existing or create entirely new materials, products, and processes through the use of science, engineering, or information technologies, high-precision tools and methods, a high-performance workforce, and innovative business or organizational models utilizing any of the following technology areas: (i) Microelectronics and nanoelectronics, including semiconductors. (ii) Advanced materials. (iii) Integrated computational materials engineering. (iv) Nanotechnology. (v) Additive manufacturing. (vi) Industrial biotechnology. (B) “Advanced manufacturing” includes any of the following: (i) Systems that result from substantive advancement, whether incremental or breakthrough, beyond the current industry standard, in the production of materials and products. These advancements include improvements in manufacturing processes and systems that are often referred to as “smart” or “intelligent” manufacturing systems, which integrate computational predictability and operational efficiency. (ii) (I) Sustainable manufacturing systems and manufacturing technologies that minimize the use of resources while maintaining or improving cost and performance. (II) Sustainable manufacturing systems and manufacturing technologies do not include those required to be undertaken pursuant to state or federal law or regulations, air district rules or regulations, memoranda of understanding with a governmental entity, or legally binding agreements or documents. The State Air Resources Board shall advise the authority to ensure that the requirements of this clause are met. (2) (A) “Advanced transportation technologies” means emerging commercially competitive transportation-related technologies identified by the authority as capable of creating long-term, high-value-added jobs for Californians while enhancing the state’s commitment to energy conservation, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and transportation efficiency. (B) “Advanced transportation technologies” does not include those projects required to be undertaken pursuant to state or federal law or regulations, air district rules or regulations, memoranda of understanding with a governmental entity, or legally binding agreements or documents. The State Air Resources Board shall advise the authority regarding projects that are excluded pursuant to this subparagraph. (3) (A) “Alternative sources” means devices or technologies used for a renewable electrical generation facility, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 25741, devices or technologies used for an electrical generation facility that uses nuclear fusion technology, a combined heat and power system, as defined in Section 2840.2 of the Public Utilities Code, distributed generation and energy storage technologies eligible under the self-generation incentive program pursuant to Section 379.6 of the Public Utilities Code, as determined by the Public Utilities Commission, or a facility designed for the production of renewable fuels, the efficient use of which reduces the use of fossil or nuclear fuels, and energy efficiency devices or technologies that reduce the need for new electric generation and reduce emissions of toxic and criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases. (B) “Alternative sources” does not include a hydroelectric facility that does not meet state laws pertaining to the control, appropriation, use, and distribution of water, including, but not limited to, the obtaining of applicable licenses and permits. (4) “Authority” means the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority established pursuant to Section 26004, and any board, commission, department, or officer succeeding to the functions of the authority, or to which the powers conferred upon the authority by this division shall be given. (5) “Cost” as applied to a project or portion of the project financed under this division means all or part of the cost of construction and acquisition of all lands, structures, real or personal property or an interest in the real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, and interests acquired or used for a project; the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which those buildings or structures may be moved; the cost of all machinery, equipment, and furnishings, financing charges, interest prior to, during, and for a period after, completion of construction as determined by the authority; provisions for working capital; reserves for principal and interest and for extensions, enlargements, additions, replacements, renovations, and improvements; the cost of architectural, engineering, financial, accounting, auditing and legal services, plans, specifications, estimates, administrative expenses, and other expenses necessary or incidental to determining the feasibility of constructing any project or incidental to the construction, acquisition, or financing of a project. (6) “Financial assistance” includes, but is not limited to, loans, loan loss reserves, interest rate reductions, proceeds of bonds issued by the authority, bond insurance, loan guarantees or other credit enhancements or liquidity facilities, contributions of money, or a combination thereof, as determined by, and approved by the resolution of, the board. (7) (A) “Participating party” means a person, federal or state agency, department, board, authority, or commission, state or community college, or university, or a city or county, regional agency, public district, school district, or other political entity engaged in the business or operations in the state, whether organized for profit or not for profit, that applies for financial assistance from the authority for the purpose of implementing a project. (B) (i) For purposes of Section 6010.8 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, “participating party” means an entity specified in subparagraph (A) that seeks financial assistance pursuant to Section 26011.8. (ii) For purposes of Section 6010.8 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, an entity located outside of the state, including an entity located overseas, is considered to be a participating party and is eligible to apply for financial assistance pursuant to Section 26011.8 if the participating party commits to, and demonstrates that, the party will be opening a manufacturing facility in the state. (iii) It is the intent of the Legislature by adding clause (ii) to clarify existing law and ensure that an out-of-state entity or overseas entity is eligible to apply for financial assistance pursuant to Section 26011.8. (8) (A) “Project” means a land, building, improvement to the land or building, rehabilitation, work, property, or structure, real or personal, stationary or mobile, including, but not limited to, machinery and equipment utilized in the state, whether or not in existence or under construction, that utilizes, or is designed to utilize, an alternative source, or that is utilized for the design, technology transfer, manufacture, production, assembly, distribution, or service of advanced transportation technologies or alternative source components. (B) “Project,” for purposes of Section 26011.8 and Section 6010.8 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, is defined in Section 26011.8. (9) “Revenue” means all rents, receipts, purchase payments, loan repayments, and all other income or receipts derived by the authority from a project, or the sale, lease, or other disposition of alternative source or advanced transportation technology facilities, or the making of loans to finance alternative source or advanced transportation technology facilities, and any income or revenue derived from the investment of money in any fund or account of the authority. (b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed. SEC. 2. Section 26003 of the Public Resources Code, as amended by Section 4 of Chapter 690 of the Statutes of 2019, is amended to read: 26003. (a) As used in this division, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) (A) “Advanced transportation technologies” means emerging commercially competitive transportation-related technologies identified by the authority as capable of creating long-term, high-value-added jobs for Californians while enhancing the state’s commitment to energy conservation, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and transportation efficiency. (B) “Advanced transportation technologies” does not include those projects required to be undertaken pursuant to state or federal law or regulations, air district rules or regulations, memoranda of understanding with a governmental entity, or legally binding agreements or documents. The State Air Resources Board shall advise the authority regarding projects that are excluded pursuant to this subparagraph. (2) (A) “Alternative sources” means devices or technologies used for a renewable electrical generation facility, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 25741, a combined heat and power system, as defined in Section 2840.2 of the Public Utilities Code, distributed generation and energy storage technologies eligible under the self-generation incentive program pursuant to Section 379.6 of the Public Utilities Code, as determined by the Public Utilities Commission, or a facility designed for the production of renewable fuels, the efficient use of which reduces the use of fossil or nuclear fuels, and energy efficiency devices or technologies that reduce the need for new electric generation and reduce emissions of toxic and criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases. (B) “Alternative sources” does not include a hydroelectric facility that does not meet state laws pertaining to the control, appropriation, use, and distribution of water, including, but not limited to, the obtaining of applicable licenses and permits. (3) “Authority” means the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority established pursuant to Section 26004, and any board, commission, department, or officer succeeding to the functions of the authority, or to which the powers conferred upon the authority by this division shall be given. (4) “Cost” as applied to a project or portion of the project financed under this division means all or part of the cost of construction and acquisition of all lands, structures, real or personal property or an interest in the real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, and interests acquired or used for a project; the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which those buildings or structures may be moved; the cost of all machinery, equipment, and furnishings, financing charges, interest prior to, during, and for a period after, completion of construction as determined by the authority; provisions for working capital; reserves for principal and interest and for extensions, enlargements, additions, replacements, renovations, and improvements; the cost of architectural, engineering, financial, accounting, auditing and legal services, plans, specifications, estimates, administrative expenses, and other expenses necessary or incidental to determining the feasibility of constructing any project or incidental to the construction, acquisition, or financing of a project. (5) “Financial assistance” includes, but is not limited to, loans, loan loss reserves, interest rate reductions, proceeds of bonds issued by the authority, bond insurance, loan guarantees or other credit enhancements or liquidity facilities, contributions of money, or a combination thereof, as determined by, and approved by the resolution of, the board. (6) (A) “Participating party” means a person, federal or state agency, department, board, authority, or commission, state or community college, or university, or a city or county, regional agency, public district, scho [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]