Environment

LOS ANGELES — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced the creation of the first-of-its-kind Affordability Response Team within the California Department of Justice (DOJ). The Affordability Response Team will draw on the knowledge of experts from sections across the department, working together to find, investigate, and go after individuals and corporations deploying unlawful practices that are making life unaffordable for the people of California.

“Californians, we hear you: The cost of living is much too high. For many people in our state the cost of a week off work, a set of new tires, or a trip to the grocery store — let alone a mortgage or a visit to the emergency room — are not within reach,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, I am proud to announce the launch of my office’s Affordability Response Team. Comprised of legal experts from across DOJ, the Affordability Response Team will work to investigate and go after practices that are unlawfully raising costs. It will create a pipeline to tackle affordability from all angles — whether it be unlawful behavior by corporations, landlords, scammers, or policies that are driving up prices. Hardworking Californians deserve fair prices, deserve the ability to make enough to meet their basic needs — and also deserve to have the experiences, vacations, and joys that make life richer.”

Californians are facing an affordability crisis of epic proportion — and many cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel. Housing shortages, skyrocketing grocery prices, rising healthcare and childcare costs, predatory corporate behavior, and the federal government’s unstable economic policies are all making it difficult not only to cover the basics, but to enjoy many of the things hardworking Americans should be able to afford — like a family vacation or a dinner out. The affordability crisis disproportionately impacts low-income households, communities of color, individuals with disabilities, and young adults. In fact, 23% of California’s young adults ages 18–24 live in poverty. And seven in 10 Californians feel that healthcare expenses place a financial strain on their household.

Because these challenges are entrenched and complex, tackling the affordability crisis requires creative thinking and a willingness to attack the problem from all angles. As the top law enforcement officer of California, Attorney General Bonta has been engaged in work that goes after illegal conduct contributing to rising costs. The creation of the Affordability Response Team will amplify DOJ’s ongoing focus on affordability, to allow this work to continue, create a pipeline for continued enforcement, and signal to bad actors that California is zeroed in on this.

THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS 

Americans across the country are feeling squeezed by a wall of rising costs.

Already high food prices are predicted to increase by 3.4% over the next year and a growing number of people are skipping meals or relying on food banks because of rising food costs. Utility prices and gas prices have also increased, at the same time, wages have stagnated or declined for many workers. Since 1970’s, wages for the bottom 90% of earners have increased 44%, while wages for the top 1% of earners have risen more than 180%. More Americans are taking on debt because of the rising cost of necessities. Credit card debt in the U.S. by the end of 2025 hit a record of $1.28 trillion — and in the first quarter of this year, the percentage of credit-card balances that were at least 90 days delinquent rose to 13.12%, the highest level in 15 years.

Not all Americans are feeling the squeeze. As most households are trying to figure out how the numbers are supposed to add up for life in America, demand for luxury yachts and private jets is surging. The top 1% of Americans held 32% of America’s wealth and CEO compensation increased by almost 6% to $17.7 million as company boards rewarded their top executives for bigger profits. President Trump has said he doesn’t think about Americans financial situation and his Administration is walking the talk by exacerbating the affordability crisis with its polices. Policies like rolling back antitrust enforcement that holds large corporations accountable, pursuing international policy that leaves consumers feeling pain at the pump, prioritizing tax cuts for wealthier Americans, levying an illegal regime of tariffs, and destroying the agency responsible for protecting Americans from exploitation by big businesses who aren’t playing by the rules. All the while, the President and his own family are profiting wildly from holding public office.

FOCUS AREAS 

The Affordability Response Team will deploy DOJ's tools in these areas:

Keeping the Household Running: Grocery, Gas, and Utility Costs

From cable bills to grocery runs, the household bills Californians grapple with every month seem to be endlessly going up.

Affordability in Action:

• May 2026: Attorney General Bonta Secures End of Unlawful Meat Price Coordination, Announces Settlement with Agri Stats
• April 2026: Naming Names: Attorney General Bonta Secures Public Access to Evidence in Amazon Price Fixing Case

A Roof Over Your Head: Housing & Insurance Costs

Confronting California’s housing shortage, unlawful landlord behavior, and rising home insurance costs.

Affordability in Action:

• February 2026: Attorney General Bonta Announces Settlement with Redding Property Management Company for Violating Tenant Protection Act
• November 2025: Attorney General Bonta Announces $7 Million Settlement with Greystar for Participating in an Algorithmic Rent Alignment Scheme

Relief from Sickening Healthcare Costs

Tackling consolidation in the healthcare industry and the rising costs associated with going to the doctor and paying for prescriptions, so that all Californians can afford the care they need to be well.

Affordability in Action:

• May 2026: Attorney General Bonta Conditionally Approves Proposed Transaction to Ensure Continued Access to Senior Care Services in Fresno County
• March 2026: Attorney General Bonta Opposes Trump Administration’s Proposed Expansion of Catastrophic Health Insurance Plans 

Investing in Our Future: Childcare, Education, & Retirement

Ensuring Californians can care for their families, pursue a livelihood, invest in their future, and plan for every stage of their lives.

Affordability in Action:

• May 2026: Attorney General Bonta Opposes Plan to Weaken Federal Protections for Retirement Investments
• February 2026: Attorney General Bonta Defeats Trump Administration in Court Again, Continues Protecting Over $10 Billion in Child Care and Family Assistance Funding

All Work and Harder to Play: The High Cost of Enjoying Life

From planning a vacation to seeing your favorite band in concert, the joys of life are getting harder and harder to afford. The Affordability Response Team is tackling hidden fees and going after corporate practices hiking up prices for entertainment, tech, and trips.

Affordability in Action:

• April 2026: Attorney General Bonta Celebrates Historic Verdict in Live Nation/Ticketmaster Trial
• July 2024: Attorney General Bonta to Consumers: This Summer, Enjoy California — Without the Hidden Fees

Financial Protection: Protecting Your Hard-Earned Money

Protecting Californians by going after shady practices by big banks, lenders, and policies that unfairly penalize consumers and leave them worse off.

Affordability in Action:

• January 2026: Attorney General Bonta Helps Secure $425 Million Capital One Settlement
• January 2026: We're Going to Need a Bigger Boat: Attorney General Bonta Continues Championing Legislation to Protect California Veterans Against Claim Sharks, Financial Exploitation

Earning Less: Labor, Wages, and the Cost of Doing Business

Championing workers’ rights and maintaining a vibrant, profitable economy go hand in hand.

 Affordability in Action:

• March 2026: Attorney General Bonta Urges Congress to Fix Trump’s Tariff Mess, Refund Americans
• July 2025: Attorney General Bonta Announces Nearly $2 Million Settlement with Janitorial Franchising Companies Barring Use of Franchising to Misclassify Workers

Scams, Scams, Scams!

From social media investment scams to job scams and robocalls, cracking down and sounding the alarm on conduct preying on consumers’ pocketbooks.

Affordability in Action:

• April 2026: All That Glitters isn’t Gold: Attorney General Bonta Warns Californians of LA 2028 Olympic Games Ticket Scams
• August 2025: The Robocall Task Force Strikes Again! Attorney General Bonta Launches Operation Robocall Roundup

Click here to learn more about DOJ’s Recent Affordability Work.

RESOURCES — You Tell Us, What Corporations or Practices Should We Know About?

Housing: The Housing Justice Team reminds Californians that they can send complaints or tips related to housing to oag.ca.gov/report. Tenants who need legal help can find legal aid resources in their area at www.LawHelpCA.org.

Antitrust: Antitrust laws and their enforcement help protect consumers by ensuring businesses compete fairly, which often results in lower prices, higher quality goods, and more innovative products. Use DOJ’s Antitrust Complaint Form to report anticompetitive conduct — like price fixing, collusion, or monopolization concerns — that potentially violate the antitrust laws.

Consumer/Business/Healthcare: If you have a complaint about a business who is not complying with consumer protection or other laws, consumers can visit DOJ’s reporting page to submit a complaint.

OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced that California is leading a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief that supports affirmance of a district court order that granted the New York Attorney General’s motion to quash grand jury subpoenas issued by an Acting U.S. Attorney whose appointment violated the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution. The district court found that the Acting U.S. Attorney lacked authority to issue the subpoenas and disqualified him from any further involvement in prosecuting or supervising any investigations related to the subject of the subpoenas. The subpoenas sought to probe New York’s investigations into the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association (NRA). The brief is being filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

“Respect for the Constitution is not optional,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The Appointments Clause exists to ensure accountability, transparency, and balance in our federal government. When that process is bypassed, it threatens not only the rule of law but also the ability of states to protect their residents from federal overreach.”

The coalition’s brief argues that adherence to the Appointments Clause is essential to preserving the separation of powers and protecting state sovereignty. It emphasizes that allowing improperly appointed officials to wield expansive grand jury authority risks undermining the integrity and reliability of the justice system.

Grounded in the history and purpose of Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the Appointments Clause was designed as a check on executive authority by requiring Senate advice and consent. As the brief explains, this process promotes the selection of qualified officials serving the national interest while ensuring that states, through their senators, have a voice in federal appointments— including for U.S. Attorneys whose decisions directly affect state residents. 

The brief also addresses the narrow statutory exception allowing temporary appointments as stopgaps while the Appointments Clause’s advice and consent process is completed, noting that such authority is strictly time-limited. This exception was misused in this instance because the Acting U.S. Attorney continued serving after the expiration of a prior temporary appointment, bypassing the constitutional confirmation process. 

In filing the brief, Attorney General Bonta was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.

Here is a copy of the brief. 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia opposing an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) notice (Notice 2025-42) that limits the eligibility of wind and solar projects to receive certain IRS tax credits. Wind and solar projects usually qualify for certain tax credits once they have begun construction, but this notice arbitrarily narrows the threshold for what is considered the beginning of construction for the purposes of claiming the tax credit. In the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition assert that this proposed tax policy will stymie projects, exacerbate the negative effects of climate change, and decrease the supply of clean energy while increasing costs to ratepayers precisely at a time when our nation needs more clean energy, not less. 

“At a time when the demand for energy is increasing, we should be ramping up clean energy projects, not slowing them down. The Trump Administration's policy represents a step backward that will decrease the supply of clean energy — and clean energy jobs — and increase costs for consumers,” said Attorney General Bonta. “It’s bad tax policy, and it’s illegal, plain and simple. I urge the court to vacate this unlawful action, which harms communities and ratepayers across the country.”  

Current projections demonstrate that the nationwide demand for electricity is increasing with the advent of new data centers, cloud-based services, artificial intelligence, and more. To meet this demand and incentivize the development of clean energy, the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act created the Clean Electricity Production Tax Credit and the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit. These tax credits — designed to be accessible to any type of clean electricity facility with zero greenhouse gas emissions — were projected to save consumers $16 to $34 billion in annual electric costs by 2035. The tax credits were also projected to reduce air pollutants by 20% and deliver 300 to 400 million tons in greenhouse gas reductions compared to no tax credits by 2035.  

However, in July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law and phased out the tax credits for wind and solar facilities that would be placed into service after December 31, 2027, with an exception for facilities that begin construction on or before July 4, 2026. In August 2025, the IRS issued Notice 2025-42, which restricted the criteria for determining when certain wind and solar facilities began construction for the purposes of claiming the tax credit. Under the new policy, the previous safe harbor that required certain developers to incur 5% of the total project cost by July 4, 2026, is no longer sufficient to qualify for the tax credit. As a result, many wind and solar projects may be abandoned, along with the jobs they would have created, or cost substantially more to build — costs that would be passed on to ratepayers once the project is up and running. In December 2026, a coalition of non-governmental organizations, industry participants, and public entities responded by filing a complaint against the IRS alleging that the notice violates the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

In the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition assert that Notice 2025-42: 

• Decreases the supply of clean energy available in the long term and increases electricity costs. 
• Results in a variety of harms, including damage to prior economic investments in renewable energy development, the ability to plan for and obtain reliable affordable energy, and the ability to protect land and residents from severe environmental and public health harms caused by pollution from fossil fuel energy sources.
• Is arbitrary and capricious without reasonable justification that explains why the IRS wants to discourage wind and solar development.  

Attorney General Bonta is committed to fighting federal actions that attack reliable, affordable, and sustainable power. Just last week, he filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for illegally rolling back funding for clean energy and infrastructure programs, including the $1.2 billion ARCHES clean hydrogen. He also filed an amicus brief opposing separate federal efforts to obstruct wind and solar energy development. Late last year, he claimed victory after a court order invalidated the Trump Administration’s effort to halt wind energy development following prior litigation on the matter. 

In filing the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia. 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today co-led a multistate coalition of 12 attorneys general and the California Public Utilities Commission in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit supporting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in defending Order No. 1920. The order — titled Building for the Future Through Electric Regional Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation — requires electric transmission providers to engage in long-term planning for regional transmission facilities and consider evolving demands and sources when proposing how to pay for those facilities. In the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition explain that Order 1920’s sensible long-term planning requirements will help support the development of needed transmission infrastructure, improve the grid’s reliability, incorporate state engagement, and reduce future costs to consumers.

“Advancing affordable, reliable, and clean energy should be about reducing costs to consumers and controlling the temperature on our planet’s thermometer. Long-term planning for the nation’s grid is commonsense and not a partisan issue,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Order 1920 advances an efficient approach to long-term energy transmission planning. With today’s amicus brief, we welcome FERC’s effort and urge the Court to uphold Order 1920 which will support efficient and clean energy infrastructure for our future.” 

"California’s clean energy future depends on a modern, well-planned transmission system that can reliably deliver affordable electricity to where it is needed,” said Alice Reynolds, President of the California Public Utilities Commission. “FERC’s Order 1920 is consistent with California’s long-term regional transmission planning process and will support the development of a lower cost, more resilient grid across the Western region.”

Electricity transmission is like an interstate highway system that connects generation sources to customers; it must have sufficient capacity along the corridors where it is needed. FERC properly identified deficiencies with the past model of transmission planning, including concerns about grid reliability, affordability, and growing electricity needs, and carefully responded with Order 1920. Order 1920’s transmission-planning reforms will generate several significant affordability and reliability benefits for the entire Western grid, including California consumers. It requires transmission providers to undertake long-term regional planning and then regularly update those plans. It also requires that providers incorporate economic and reliability benefits when choosing new transmission infrastructure projects, consider electrical grid-enhancing technologies, and improve state and interregional cooperation. These requirements will help California’s policies to connect less expensive and cleaner power sources to the grid — like wind and solar — thereby reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the power sector, which is the nation’s second largest source of GHG emissions. At the same time, Order 1920 will improve reliability and lower costs when compared to the current approach to transmission planning.  

On May 13, 2024, FERC approved Order 1920, which it subsequently amended twice in response to administrative petitions. A few Republican-led States, conservative interest groups, and other entities have filed court challenges to Order 1920. These cases have been consolidated in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals under the lead case, Appalachian Voices v. FERC. 

In the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition explain that Order 1920:  

• Is expected to accelerate upgrades with new, less expensive renewable projects and provide a critical foundation for realizing the GHG emission reduction benefits from various state and local climate and energy initiatives adopted by the coalition. 
• Will spur the replacement of aging facilities and infrastructure that otherwise would have been avoided or deferred. This will improve affordability and reliability of the power sector, which too often relies on narrow decision-making that develops local power lines in an inefficient fashion. 
• Includes several mechanisms specifically designed to reduce consumer costs. It requires providers to incorporate economic benefits into the planning for new facilities, and it also provides a mechanism for the reevaluation of approved transmission projects to prevent or minimize cost overruns.
• Respects the important role played by states in developing and siting new power sources.

In filing today’s amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta and Attorney General of Massachusetts Andrea Joy Campbell, lead a coalition that includes the attorneys general of Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia. 

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today celebrated the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington’s final ruling against the Trump Administration in multistate litigation challenging the illegal withholding of funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. As of today, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has approved nearly all funding allocated to California under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. After securing an early court order in June blocking the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of funding and with today’s court order, Attorney General Bonta, along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Department of Transportation, and the California Energy Commission, has now ensured that California can access $379 million in funding to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure it had been previously awarded. 

“After several attempts by the Trump Administration to unlawfully block funding for electric vehicle infrastructure, we have secured a full victory in court, guaranteeing $379 million in funding that will help ensure Californians can access clean, affordable transportation,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “This funding supports our continued commitment to fight air pollution and climate change and empower Californians to innovate and create clean jobs. We will continue to oppose Trump’s unlawful attempts to block Congressionally-appropriated funding and to protect innovation and our environment.”

"President Trump tried to kill billions in funding for our national EV charging infrastructure, and he lost," said Governor Gavin Newsom. "California sued, California won, and now states across the country can create good-paying jobs, cut pollution, and build the charging network we need to beat China in the global race for clean vehicles. Californians want EVs, and we're committed to building the infrastructure to make that happen. The fourth-largest economy in the world isn't backing down — California is open for business."

"This decision will help us fulfill our mission to build a cleaner and more reliable transportation system for all travelers," said California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin. "It's in alignment with Governor Newsom's steadfast commitment to combat the climate change crisis and stand up for every Californian."

"Electric vehicles are here to stay — here in California, across the nation, and around the world — and the NEVI program is an important part of the strategy to meet our growing demand for charging infrastructure," said California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild. "We applaud the Western District's ruling and look forward to continue building out a robust, reliable, accessible EV charging network for all Californians."

BACKGROUND

In 2021, Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. One provision of the IIJA appropriated $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program to facilitate a national network of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the states, making clean cars accessible and convenient for more consumers and markets. On Day One of his administration, President Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to immediately stop releasing certain funds appropriated through the IIJA, including $5 billion that Congress appropriated for electric vehicle charging stations under NEVI. Following that directive, FHWA effectively halted the NEVI program by, among other things, illegally withholding billions in funds that Congress had directed to the states for building EV infrastructure. 

LOS ANGELES — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, challenging the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) orders that illegally assert exclusive jurisdiction over two California onshore oil pipelines, known as the Las Flores Pipelines or lines CA-324 and CA-325, and allow them to restart operations. Filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Attorney General's petition for review challenges PHMSA’s attempt to evade state regulation through its orders to federalize the Las Flores Pipelines, approve Sable Offshore Corp.'s (Sable) Restart Plan, and issue Sable an emergency permit to restart oil transport through the pipelines. In the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta and the Office of the State Fire Marshal argue that PHMSA's orders violate the Administrative Procedure Act and ask the Court to overturn PHMSA’s illegal orders.

“In its latest unlawful power grab, the Trump Administration is illegally claiming exclusive federal authority over two of California's onshore pipelines. California has seen first-hand the devastating environmental and public health impacts of coastal oil spills — yet the Trump Administration will stop at nothing to evade state regulation which protects against these very disasters,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The President is once again prioritizing his donors over our people and communities. California will not stand idly by as the President endangers California's beautiful coastline and our public health to increase profits for his fossil fuel industry friends.”

"The Office of the State Fire Marshal is committed to its mission to protect the people, property, and natural resources of California," said State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant. "Our team has worked diligently to uphold the terms of the consent decree and ensure the safety of lines CA 324 and CA 325.”

On December 17, 2025, the federal PHMSA illegally reclassified the Las Flores pipelines that run from Santa Barbara County to Kern County as “interstate.” The reclassification purports to shift oversight over the pipelines from the State Fire Marshal to PHMSA even though the pipelines originate at Las Flores Canyon in Santa Barbara County. Before December 17, 2025, PHMSA had classified these onshore pipelines as intrastate pipelines subject to State safety regulation and oversight. On December 22, 2025, PHMSA issued an order approving Sable’s plan to restart oil production based on President Trump’s bogus “National Energy Emergency” Executive Order that Attorney General Bonta has previously challenged.

The onshore pipelines have been shut down for a decade since the 2015 Refugio Beach oil spill, when a corroded segment of one pipeline ruptured and released hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil near Santa Barbara. The oil spill caused serious harm to public health and safety including releasing hazardous oil and fumes that sickened communities, contaminated coastal waters, harmed hundreds of marine mammals and seabirds, and shut down beaches and fisheries for months — damaging local economies. It resulted in a Consent Decree — to which PHMSA was a party — that expressly acknowledged and approved the State Fire Marshal’s role in reviewing and approving any planned restart of the onshore pipelines. PHMSA’s current position represents a significant departure from this agreement and the way in which PHMSA historically viewed the pipelines.

In the petition, the Attorney General and the State Fire Marshal allege that PHMSA’s orders were arbitrary and capricious and violate the Administrative Procedure Act.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced settlements totaling $3.35 million with three major plastic bag producers, Novolex Holdings, LLC (Novolex), Inteplast Group Corporation (Interplast), and Mettler Packaging LLC (Mettler), resolving allegations that the companies violated Senate Bill (SB) 270, the Environmental Marketing Claims Act (EMCA), False Advertising Law, and Unfair Competition Law by unlawfully marketing and selling non-recyclable plastic bags in California. 

This follows earlier settlements with four other plastic bag producers — Revolution Sustainable Solutions (CA), LLC (Revolution), Metro Poly Corp. (Metro Poly), PreZero US Packaging, LLC (PreZero), and Advance Polybag, Inc. (API) — that were announced in October 2025. Altogether, the seven producers have agreed to pay over $5.1 million in penalties and attorneys’ fees. Effective January 1, 2026, another law (SB 1053, authored by Senator Catherine Blakespear) prohibits retailers from providing plastic bags to consumers at checkout counters, requiring that stores instead offer only recycled paper bags or allow customers to bring their own reusable bags. Six of the producers also agreed to stop selling plastic bags in California in advance of SB 1053’s effective date.   

“Plastic bag manufacturers have generated enormous amounts of plastic waste, which pollute California’s environment and harm our communities,” said Attorney General Bonta. “At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to tackling the global plastic pollution crisis and the corporations behind it. Going forward, we will monitor compliance with SB 1053, to ensure that the law's goals of reducing plastic bag waste are met.”  

Single-use plastics, including plastic bags, comprise much of the plastic waste that escapes into the environment. Plastic bags block waterways, pollute ecosystems, and harm wildlife. Plastic does not biodegrade; instead, it breaks down into smaller pieces called microplastics. Microplastics have been found in drinking water, food, and even the air people breathe. More recently, microplastics have been found inside the human body: in our lungs, blood, and in breast milk. 

The producers at issue here have provided billions of plastic bags used by California grocery retailers and have certified that these bags meet recyclability requirements as required by SB 270. However, despite the manufacturers' claims and widespread consumer belief, these plastic bags cannot be recycled to any significant degree and thus are not “recyclable,” let alone "recyclable in this state," as SB 270 required. The Attorney General is responsible for the enforcement of California’s laws, including SB 270 and the state’s unfair competition, false advertising, and misleading environmental marketing laws. 

In November 2022, Attorney General Bonta launched an investigation into producers of plastic bags over concerns that their recyclability claims are misleading. The Attorney General sent demand letters and subsequently issued investigative subpoenas, requiring producers to substantiate their claims that their bags are recyclable, including evidence supporting the producers’ implicit and explicit representations of their bags’ recyclability, such as by placing the chasing arrows symbol on the bags. 

The producers were unable to produce any documents with information regarding the quantity of plastic bags that are recycled at the producers’ own facilities; provide any firm evidence that recycling facilities in California recycle plastic bags, including facilities that producers identified as those they believe recycle their bags; or identify the percentage of plastic bags the producers sold to stores in California that were recycled. The producers also affirmed that their plastic bags display the chasing arrows symbol and direct consumers to recycle the bags, which are “claims” subject to the EMCA. Additionally, the investigation included a statewide survey to verify whether waste processing and recycling facilities accept plastic bags for recycling. Out of the 69 facilities surveyed, only two claimed to accept plastic bags, but could not confirm the bags were, in fact, recycled. This survey confirmed that the vast majority of facilities in California do not accept plastic bags or process them for recycling.

Attorney General Bonta obtained settlements in October 2025 with Revolution, Metro Poly, PreZero, and API, who agreed to stop sell plastic bags in California and collectively paid $1,753,000. We concurrently filed a lawsuit  against Novolex, Inteplast, and Mettler. As part of the settlements announced today, Novolex will pay $1,650,000, Inteplast will pay $1,000,000, and Mettler will pay $700,000. These settlement amounts bring the total for all seven producers in this matter to $5,103,000, which includes $3,475,000 in civil penalties and $1,628,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s draft plan to open up waters offshore California for drilling:

“Time and again, President Trump has shown that his interest lies with his Big Oil friends profiting at the expense of our environment and public health. California takes our responsibility to steward our environment and natural resources seriously — we are not a rich man’s playground, and the President cannot come and extract resources as he pleases. California will not stand by while the Trump Administration marches in and make a mess of our coastal towns and waterways in order to line the pockets of its wealthy friends. The livelihoods of millions of Californians depend on the economies and industries supported by our coastal areas. My office stands fully opposed to this plan and is committed to protecting California’s natural resources.”

In June, Attorney General Bonta and a coalition of states sent a letter to the federal government opposing offshore oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the letter, the states argued that there is no compelling need to risk marine and coastal resources for the limited supplies of fossil fuels off of our coasts. The United States already produces more oil and gas than any other country and exports more than it uses, and demand for gasoline has been dropping since 2019, especially on the East and West coasts.

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general and two states in filing a motion for a preliminary injunction to ensure that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) preserves funding for the Solar for All federal grant program while litigation is pending. In August, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the agency would terminate the Solar for All program, asserting the agency no longer had statutory authority to administer the funds. Administrator Zeldin’s directive terminated nearly $250 million in funds owed to California, where state agencies were preparing to build out community solar and associated clean energy projects. In October, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition challenged the Trump Administration in a pair of lawsuits over the unlawful termination of this funding. In today’s motion, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the coalition asks the District Court to freeze congressionally appropriated Solar for All funds — including both the funds still in the states’ accounts and the funds already taken out — so that the Court can restore the program later if the coalition is ultimately successful in their litigation. A preliminary injunction will ensure that the funds are protected from being moved outside of EPA, where they could become unrecoverable.

“Without the District Court’s intervention, states including California will experience irreparable harm from the EPA’s actions,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s why we, alongside a broad coalition of attorneys general, are filing this motion to protect funding for the Solar for All program—a nationwide program that promises to address climate change, stimulate the economy, and promote energy independence and grid reliability, while also lowering energy costs.”

In 2022, Congress appropriated $7 billion to EPA through the Inflation Reduction Act specifically to develop competitive grant programs to expand solar energy access nationwide. EPA designed the Solar for All program to provide financial and technical assistance for the deployment of zero-emission technology, including residential and distributed solar to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in low-income and disadvantaged communities. EPA issued 60 competitive awards in 2024 to states, municipalities, and non-profit organizations, ranging from $43.5 million to almost $250 million per recipient. 

In their motion, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition argue that: 

• The states are likely to prevail in their claims that the Trump Administration’s actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and congressional mandates. 
• The states will suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief prohibiting EPA from de-obligating and reprogramming Solar for All funding. In California, state agencies were expecting to receive almost $250 million, including more than $200 million to build out community solar systems, which would enable California residents to obtain 20% monthly discounts on electricity bills in exchange for participating in the Solar for All program—primarily aimed at lower- and middle-income families. The funding also included $9 million for workforce training—enabling more California workers to acquire skills needed to help build a sustainable future. 
• The irreparable harms that would flow from EPA’s decision to move the Solar for All funds outside of the agency overwhelmingly favor preliminary injunctive relief.  

In filing today’s motion for a preliminary injunction, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Washington, Minnesota, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Also joining today’s filing are the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, as well as the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.  

A copy of the motion can be found here.

SAN FRANCISCO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today delivered remarks on California Department of Justice’s preparations to protect California’s values, people, and natural resources ahead of a second Trump Administration. To view a recording of the press conference, please visit here. 

Attorney General Bonta's Remarks as Prepared for Delivery:

As the reality of a second Trump Administration takes hold, I know there is a great deal of fear, sadness, anxiety, and panic. 

I understand. 

I’m here today to reassure you that in California, progress will prevail. 

No matter who is in the White House, no matter who holds control of Congress, in California we will keep moving forward. 

In California, we will choose calm over chaos. 

Fact over fiction.

Belonging over blame.

Unity over division. 

“Us and we” over “I and me.” 

It’s why we’re the 5th largest economy in the world. Not in spite of our commitment to workers, consumers, and the environment, because of it. 

Because we’re the largest and most diverse state in the nation.

Because we believe in the power of inclusivity.

Because we believe in truth over lies. Hope over hate. Light over dark.

Because  we believe in looking forward.

It’s who we are in the Golden State. It’s in our DNA. Nothing and no one can change that. 

As Attorney General, I’ll continue to use the full force of the law and authority of this office to address injustice. 

To stand up for all people, especially those who have long been overlooked and undervalued.

To safeguard reproductive rights. 

And advocate for more housing — especially more affordable housing for lower and middle-income families just trying to get by.

I’ll continue to take on greedy corporate giants and fight for more affordable gas, groceries, and everything in between.  

I’ll continue to defend our world-renowned natural resources and protect them for generations to come. 

Continue to fight for clean water to drink and clean air to breathe.

Continue to crack down on illicit guns on our streets and get fentanyl out of our neighborhoods. 

Continue to fight for workers.

I’ll continue to protect, defend, and serve every single Californian. No matter your politics. 

I’m here to ensure every person — no matter how they look, how much money they make, where they’re from, who they love, how they identify, or how they pray — can pursue their version of the California Dream. 

A fair wage and good benefits.  

A safe and affordable place to live.  

Affordable and accessible health care. 

Good schools to send our kids to. 

Safe neighborhoods to raise our families. 

That’s my promise to you, no matter who is in the White House.  

We’ve been here before.

We lived through Trump 1.0. 

We know what he’s capable of. 

We know what plans he has in store. 

The silver lining is just that: we know. 

We know to take Trump at his word when he says he’ll roll back environmental protections, go after our immigrant and LGBTQ+ communities, attack our civil rights, and restrict access to essential reproductive care.

Which means, we won’t be flat-footed come January.

You can be sure that as California Attorney General, if Trump attacks your rights: I’ll be there. 

If Trump comes after your freedoms: I’ll be there. 

If Trump jeopardizes your safety and well-being: I’ll be there.

California DOJ did it before and we’ll do it again.  

During the last Trump Administration, California DOJ fought to stop illegal rollbacks and proposals that would’ve harmed the well-being, health, safety, and civil rights of our people and of people across the country. 

That would have caused irrevocable damage to our environment.

No matter who is in charge of the federal government…

No matter what the incoming Administration has in store… California will remain the steadfast beacon of progress it has long been.  

A constant, unwavering, immoveable force to be reckoned with.  

We’ll continue to be a check on overreach and push back on abuse of power. 

Be the antidote to dangerous, extremist, hateful vitriol.

Be the blueprint of progress for the nation to look to.

Remember: in moments of chaos in D.C., you can always look to California for calm resolve. 

California leaders across the state are ready to stand arm-in-arm. 

Governor Newsom and every single Constitutional Officer;  

Senator Padilla and Senator-elect Schiff;  

Democratic members of Congress; 

Pro Tem McGuire, Speaker Rivas, and the California Legislature; 

Mayors, supervisors, and city councilmembers from San Francisco to San Diego are ready to fight for our California values. 

For our people. For our environment.

For progress and justice.

And as necessary, we’re ready to take on the challenges of a second Trump Administration — together.

While a great deal of change is on the horizon…

California’s path to progress remains full steam ahead.

It may not always be linear. Progress so rarely is. 

It zigs and zags. Takes frustrating detours. Inches forward and backward and forward again. 

The detours and setbacks don’t define our progress.

Our commitment to forward momentum defines our progress. Defines us. 

It’s what we do next that will define us. 

If you’re feeling despondent today, remember that you’re not alone. 

In California, we’re not looking back. We’re not moving back. 

We’re California! We’ll meet any challenges head on and rise to the occasion.

As is so often said, as California goes, so goes the nation.

In the days and months and years to come, all eyes will look west. 

In California, they’ll see: we’re still moving forward.

Thank you.