Establishes voluntary vessel speed reduction and sustainable shipping program.

Requires the Ocean Protection Council, on or before January 1, 2027, in coordination and in consultation with various entities, including the State Air Resources Board, to implement a statewide voluntary vessel speed reduction and sustainable shipping program for the California coast in order to reduce air pollution, the risk of fatal vessel strikes on whales, and harmful underwater acoustic impacts. Requires the program to expand a certain existing program and would authorize the program to include specified components, including incentives to
program participants based on a percentage of distance traveled by a participating vessel at a reduced speed, as provided. Limits application of the program to vessels that are 300 gross tons or greater. Requires the council, on or before December 31, 2027, to submit a report to the Legislature regarding the implementation of the program.

Pending Suspense File action on fiscal analysis.

02/12/2024 Read first time in Assembly.
02/26/2024 Referred to Assembly Committees on Water, Public Works and Wildife, and Natural Resources.
03/19/2024 Amended, and do pass as amended. Re-referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
03/20/2024 Read second time and amended.
03/21/2024 Re-referred to Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.
04/09/2024 From Committee with recommendation for passage. Re-referred to Assembly Committee on Appropriations with recommendation.
04/17/2024 Referred to Suspense File for fiscal analysis in Assembly Committee on Appropriations.