California Climate Policy Recap for 2026: The Good, the Bad, and the Future Webinar – 21 October 2026
The Clean Coalition is a partner organization for this webinar, which takes place on 21 October 2026 at 10am.
The Climate Center believes in thriving, healthy communities. They envision a future where everyone in California enjoys clean air and water, renewable and reliable energy, healthy food, and abundant nature. California has the tools and the know-how to make this vision a reality if our elected leaders summon the political will. It is time we put people back at the heart of policy. In doing so, we can keep our friends and loved ones safe from worsening climate disasters, create millions of family-sustaining jobs, and give everyone the chance to thrive in the clean energy economy.
Webinar: California Climate Policy Recap for 2026: The Good, the Bad, and the Future
Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 10am to 11:30am PT
Activists with the Last Chance Alliance coalition placed 100 mini oil derricks on the capitol lawn to call out Big Oil’s influence over California decision-makers. Photo by Laura Deehan.
The 2026 California legislative session came to a close on August 31. During this webinar, climate advocates and Sacramento insiders will join us to explore which proposed climate policies did (and didn’t) become law and why. We will discuss the future impact of bills signed into law — including SB 913, SB 905, and SB 868 — as well as opportunities to continue working on vetoed bills, such as AB 1813. Speakers will cover several key themes that emerged this session, including how to provide clean and affordable electricity, addressing Big Oil’s influence in the legislative process, the fate of climate investments through the Cap and Invest program, and how Governor Newsom’s potential 2028 presidential run is shaping policy outcomes during his final year in office. After presentations, there will be time for Q&A.
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Speakers
Allison Hilliard (Moderator)
Allison is The Climate Center’s Government Affairs Director. In this role, she works closely with the initiative leaders and other staff to ensure California implements policies that effectively reduce climate pollution and secure resilient communities. Allison is The Climate Center’s voice in Sacramento, representing the organization to advocate and build coalitions and partnerships to support The Climate Center’s goals and secure a climate-safe future for all.
Dan Jacobson
Dan provides campaign strategy and policy guidance for Environment California’s program and organizational plans. Prior to his current role, he worked as the state director of Environment California and the organizing director of Florida PIRG, among other roles. The Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT) named Dan a Clean Power Champion in 2019, and Capitol Weekly named him one of the “Top 100 Lobbyists” in California in 2008.
Hayley Smith
Hayley Smith is an environment reporter at the Los Angeles Times, where she covers climate policy and solutions with a particular focus on California’s clean energy transition. Smith has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including recognition from the Center for Integrity in News Reporting, the Society of Environmental Journalists and the Los Angeles Press Club. She was a 2026 Energy Journalism Fellow at Columbia University. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from USC.
Gabriel Tolson
Gabriel is a policy professional with a background in water rights and environmental justice. He entered environmentalism through the arts, where he spent two years partnering with scientists at UCLA and UC Irvine to organize climate-focused exhibitions and public workshops. He later interned for the California State Assembly. He held a research role at the Annenberg Foundation’s Metabolic Studio–a laboratory of art, science, and policy–where he drafted water policy reforms for the Los Angeles basin. At Planning and Conservation League, Gabriel continues to advocate for the protection of California’s natural ecosystems and the communities they sustain.
Faraz Rizvi
Faraz Rizvi is a writer and activist based out of Southern California. He studied Political Science at UC Riverside and began organizing through electoral work in the Inland Empire and conducting research with the Center for Working Class Politics. With a background in communications and environmental justice, he previously served at the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ) and currently serves as Campaign and Policy Manager for Asian Pacific Environmental Network.
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