SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblyman Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) was sworn into office for a second term in the California State Assembly. He immediately introduced legislation aimed at reining in unaccountable bureaucrats that make decisions that contribute to the most expensive electricity and gasoline prices in the nation. His legislation, AB 34, would require that the impacts of any new regulation proposed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) must first be analyzed by the non-partisan Legislative Analyst Office before they can be adopted. The analysis must include an assessment of the cost to Californians.
“The majority of Californians agree that it is far too expensive to live in this state,” said Assemblyman Patterson. “Our constituents are continually burdened by increases to utility and gas prices caused by an unelected group of Sacramento insiders.”
Last month, CARB amended the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, resulting in anticipated gasoline increases up to 47 cents per gallon in 2025 and 52 cents per gallon in 2026. AB 34 would bring transparency and accountability to the unchecked rulings of CARB.
“We cannot allow unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats to continue to drive up costs for Californians without legislative oversight,” said Assemblyman Patterson. “This proposal will be the first of many of my policies targeted at reducing and stabilizing the cost of living across the state.”
Patterson represents the 5th Assembly District, which is comprised of the communities of Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Auburn, North Auburn, Loomis, Meadow Vista, Newcastle, Penryn, El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, Diamond Springs, Placerville, Shingle Springs, Auburn Lake Trails, Georgetown, Cold Springs, Coloma, Rescue and Cool.