SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) announced that Senate Bill 237, authored by Senator Tim Grayson and lead-authored in the Assembly by Wilson, passed the California State Assembly with broad bipartisan support in a 63–4 vote and passed in the Senate in a 28–0 vote. The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.
SB 237 responds to California’s shifting energy landscape, where refinery closures, declining gasoline demand, and reliance on imports have left families, workers, and communities vulnerable. The legislation strengthens safety standards for offshore oil and gas pipelines, directs state agencies to evaluate consumer protections at the pump, prohibits drilling permits in health protection zones, and takes steps to stabilize gasoline prices for California families.
“As the representative for Benicia, I know firsthand the impact refinery closures have on local economies, union workers, and small businesses,” said Assemblywoman Wilson. “SB 237 is about managing change responsibly while protecting California families, workers, and communities. The closure of the Valero refinery means the loss of thousands of good-paying jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in local economic activity. That’s why I am proud to lead author this bill, which strengthens safety standards, stabilizes the fuel market, addresses affordability at the pump, and ensures industry can continue to invest in safe and reliable operations during this transition. I am grateful to Speaker Rivas, Senate Pro Tem McGuire, Senator Grayson, and our petroleum working group for their leadership and partnership. Together, we are taking an important step toward a fair and managed transition that safeguards jobs, supports our communities, and protects consumers.”
SB 237 also directs the California Energy Commission, in consultation with the Air Resources Board, to explore temporary suspensions of the state’s summer gasoline blend if it would protect consumers from significant price increases. In addition, the Energy Commission is tasked with studying the potential for a western regional gasoline blend to stabilize markets and submitting recommendations to the Legislature on strategies for a safe, equitable, and affordable transition away from fossil fuels.
The bill’s passage underscores the Legislature’s commitment to balancing immediate consumer protections with long-term strategies for energy transition, while recognizing the unique impact on refinery communities such as Benicia.
Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson was elected in April 2022 to represent California’s 11th Assembly District which includes all of Solano County and portions of Contra Costa and Sacramento Counties. The District includes the Cities of: Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Oakley, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville and Vallejo.
