$22.7 Million in lobbying crushes California bill targeting fossil fuel giants

Sacramento, California – A high-profile California bill that would have allowed victims of wildfires and other climate disasters to sue oil companies has been killed in the state Legislature — not by Big Oil lobbyists, but by powerful labor unions aligned with the fossil fuel industry.

Senate Bill 222, introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), aimed to hold oil companies financially accountable for their role in causing climate change. The bill was backed by nearly every major environmental group in the state and supported by witnesses who had lost their homes in wildfires.

But despite California’s green reputation, SB 222 never made it past the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill fell short by two votes, with eight committee members declining to vote — a move that, by legislative rules, counted as a “no.”

The most vocal opposition came from labor groups representing oil and gas workers. Dozens of rank-and-file union members testified in person, warning that the bill could jeopardize jobs and drive up gas prices without delivering meaningful environmental benefits.

Chris Hannan, president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council, called the measure “terrible policy” that could devastate the state’s economy. “It puts our jobs in jeopardy and puts our state in jeopardy,” he said.

Though oil companies stood to lose billions if the bill passed, their lobbyists stayed largely in the background. Instead, the unions — who have donated at least $12 million to California legislators since 2015 — led the charge. By contrast, the only major political group backing SB 222 was the California Federation of Teachers, which has donated a comparatively modest $2.5 million.

Wiener expressed disappointment, saying the bill’s failure highlighted the Legislature’s ongoing reluctance to challenge the oil industry. “It continues to surprise me that the California Legislature doesn’t pass oil accountability bills,” he said.

Only one Democrat on the committee, Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced), voted “no” outright. The rest opted not to vote, a tactic critics say helps lawmakers avoid political fallout.

Caballero argued that litigation isn’t the path forward. “We’re not going to get there through this kind of lawsuit,” she said, urging investment in clean energy jobs instead.

For now, California’s climate disaster victims will continue to bear the financial burden — while oil companies remain shielded from lawsuits.