San Diego County Supervisors passed a policy to support California State Senator Steve Padilla’s Senate Bill 1178 to hold corporate polluters in California accountable. The policy, introduced by Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and Chairwoman Nora Vargas, was approved with a 3-1 vote.      

“We made the right decision today by supporting Senate Bill 1178,” said Supervisor Lawson-Remer. “More needs to be done to protect our beaches, ocean and bay. Senator Padilla’s actions will make San Diego County and California waters safer.”                         

“Today, my colleagues and I worked together to protect all San Diego communities by calling for greater accountability and transparency from large corporations who discharge polluted wastewater,” said Chairwoman Nora Vargas. “I want to recognize Senator Padilla for his leadership on this issue at the state level, and thank Vice-Chairwoman Lawson-Remer and our colleagues for leading on this issue at the regional level. As Chairwoman, I am proud that the Board stood up against pollution and stood up for healthier and stronger communities for all San Diegans.”

Senator Steve Padilla’s Senate Bill 1178 to require large corporations of 2,500+ employees to publicly disclose their wastewater discharges and directs the State Water Resources Board Control Board (SWRCB) to create the “California Water Quality and Public Health Impact Surcharge” which will quantify the costs of mitigating that contamination.

Senator Padilla’s SB 1178 was introduced in February and was referred to the State Senate Environmental Quality Committee on April 3, 2024. It is set for its first hearing in the committee on April 17, 2024. 

To read the entire policy, click here.