Governor Gavin Newsom, on October 11, 2025, signed Assembly Bill 14 into law to protect endangered whales and reduce harmful air pollution along the coast.
It was one of six bills Assemblymember Gregg Hart sent to the governor, including a bill to protect the Central Coast from future oil spills.
AB 14 expands the Blue Whales and Blue Skies program, which rewards vessels that operate at slower speeds — cutting the risk of whale strikes while reducing emissions and underwater noise.
In a video titled ‘Asm. Hart Celebrates Historic Blue Whales and Blue Skies Bill Becoming Law,’ Hart, who authored the bill, said he spent three years developing the legislation and overcoming challenges, calling the solution both “logical” and “common sense.”
About the Program’s Impact
- Whale Protection: The law is vital for endangered blue whales, which gather in large numbers in the Santa Barbara Channel during certain seasons. The issue drew attention in 2007, when five whales were killed by ship strikes, which is a continuing threat.
- Air Quality and Emissions: The voluntary “Protecting Blue Whales, Blue Skies” program, on which AB 14 is based, has delivered strong results over the past decade, reducing more than 5,900 tons of smog-forming pollution and cutting 200,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
AB 14 expands the Santa Barbara vessel speed reduction program statewide, giving official recognition to shipping companies that lead in conservation. The law helps improve air quality and protect marine life along California’s coast.
The law is based on the idea that slowing ships lowers the risk of whale strikes, reduces air pollution, and limits underwater noise that harms marine life.
Last month, Edhat reported that Hart would be sending six bills to the Governor’s desk, including the Assembly Bill 14, which is aimed at reducing ship strikes on endangered whales and cutting air emissions by incentivizing slower vessel speeds along the California coast.
At the time, Hart said, “From protecting our coastal habitat and groundwater resources to strengthening California’s justice system and giving local governments new tools to serve their communities, these bills will make a real difference for Central Coast residents and all Californians.”
2025 Hart Bills Sent to the Governor
SB 237 – Protect the Coast: Enhances oil facility and pipeline oversight, clarifying the California Coastal Commission’s authority to require permits for reactivating older facilities.
AB 14 – Blue Whales, Blue Skies: Establishes a statewide program to reduce ship strikes on endangered whales and cut air emissions by encouraging slower vessel speeds.
AB 1108 – FACTS Act: Mandates independent medical reviews of deaths in law enforcement custody, ensuring sheriff-coroners refer investigations to outside physicians.
AB 1466 – Sustainable Groundwater Management: Strengthens groundwater sustainability, protecting small farmers and disadvantaged communities from prolonged legal disputes.
AB 632 – Local Housing and Safety Compliance: Gives local governments stronger tools to enforce housing, fire safety, and cannabis regulations by increasing penalties for serious violators.
AB 471 – Equitable Air District Board Compensation: Provides fair pay, cost-of-living adjustments, and transparency rules to promote diverse, effective leadership on air district boards.
With AB 14 now law, California will implement the nation’s first statewide vessel speed reduction program, expanding successful efforts from the Santa Barbara Channel to protect marine life and improve coastal air quality.
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This is great, and on the Oct 10th, he saved us from the puppy mills, do you think next week he will begin solving the homeless problem. While spending BILLIONS of our tax dollars it has not improved. “State auditors confirmed that California spent at least $24 billion between 2018 – 2023. However, the audit found a troubling lack of tracking and evaluation regarding how the money was spent and if the programs were effective.”
How may actual homes do you think a state can build with just $1 billion?
Donald Trump gave 20 Billion of our tax dollars to Argentina in order to subsidize their soy bean farmers. Meanwhile, our soy bean farmers here at home are going bankrupt – seeing that Don raised tariffs so high that their normal markets dried up. Why did Donald Trump do this? He did so because his family and friends are heavily invested in Argentina. Do you know how many farms in the United States 20 Billion would save? People like you voted for this but you want to troll a whale post. Make Argentina Great Again.
excellent deflection!!
00PS – once again, fully functioning adults are capable of thinking about, planning and addressing more than 1 single issue a day.
Interesting to see you are now pro-housing now. Why the sudden concern about the homeless?
if they were capable of it, they would, but they haven’t!
The idibot is cranked on high today.