SB2378 - Electric Vehicle Charging Act Summary

• Requires new and renovated residential buildings to make 100% of parking spaces electric vehicle ready (or capable with percentage requirements based on building size), and requires 20% of nonresidential parking spaces to be electric vehicle ready.

• Prohibits condominiums and homeowners associations from unreasonably restricting unit owners' installation of electric vehicle charging stations within their units or designated parking spaces, and allows renters to install charging systems subject to reasonable landlord conditions.

• Establishes Electric Vehicle Access for All Program providing up to $4,000 rebates for low-income residents purchasing electric vehicles and funding car-sharing, last-mile commute solutions, and community energy initiatives targeting environmental justice communities.

• Requires electric utilities serving over 500,000 customers to file Beneficial Electrification Plans by May 31, 2022, including time-of-use rates, optimized charging programs, rebates for public charging infrastructure, and dedicated funding for low-income and environmental justice community programs.

• Establishes equity hiring and contracting preferences for utility-funded electrification projects, requiring utilities to award contracts using a points system that prioritizes BIPOC-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, worker-owned cooperatives, and prevailing wage employment.