California lawmakers block bill making oil companies liable for some health problems

By SOPHIE AUSTIN
Associated Press/Report for America

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California legislative committees in the Assembly and Senate blocked two big climate bills Thursday. One would have made the state’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets more ambitious. Another would have made it easier for oil companies to be held liable for health problems of people who live near wells. Those were among dozens of bills that did not survive hearings in the chambers’ public finance committees. That means they not likely to be passed this year. Other proposals that were blocked include legislation to ban people under 21 from using cellphones while driving and a bill to allow people struggling with suicidal thoughts to voluntarily register themselves on a “do not sell” list for firearms.