‘Make Polluters Pay’ Proposal Advances in California Legislature

Legislation to make large polluters pay for the damage caused by climate change in California advanced from a key state committee on Thursday.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the measure (SB 1497) on a vote of 5-2, with Republicans opposed.

The Assembly and Senate appropriations committees also voted to advance other high-profile environmental, social and governance bills, including legislation tightening the rules on carbon offsets and a proposal to enshrine the right to a clean environment in the state constitution.

The panels decided the fate of hundreds of pieces of legislation against the backdrop of a $44.9 billion ...