California bill could limit EV chargers

California lawmakers are weighing a bill that would let new low-income housing skip the state’s newest electric-vehicle charging rules until at least 2036. (canarymedia.com) The bill is Assembly Bill 2748, introduced in February by Democratic Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva, and it is scheduled for a committee hearing on April 22, 2026. Canary Media reported that Quirk-Silva did not respond to multiple requests for comment. (canarymedia.com) California’s current rule took effect in January 2026 and requires new multifamily projects with parking to provide one low-power Level 2 charging outlet per dwelling unit, using 20 amps at 240 volts. The requirement sits in the state’s 2025 CALGreen building code for new construction. (canarymedia.com) (hcd.ca.gov) Assembly Bill 2748 would let affordable-housing developers use the older 2022 code instead. Under that code, up to 60 percent of parking spaces in some new multifamily projects can be built without any electric-vehicle charging infrastructure. (canarymedia.com) (hcd.ca.gov) The fight lands in the middle of California’s larger housing push. Governor Gavin Newsom has said the state is planning for more than 2.5 million homes in the current cycle, including at least 1 million affordable homes for lower-income households. (gov.ca.gov) That creates a practical tradeoff: build subsidized housing with lower upfront electrical costs now, or lock in home charging access for tenants who may buy used electric cars later. Canary Media reported that the California Council for Affordable Housing backs the waiver as a cost-saving measure, while charging advocates say apartment residents would lose the cheapest place to plug in. (yahoo.com) (canarymedia.com) Home charging matters because public fast chargers usually cost more, and apartment residents often have fewer private parking options than homeowners. California has required charging outlets in new single-family homes, duplexes, and town houses since the 2016 code, but the multifamily requirement only arrived with the latest update. (canarymedia.com) The state’s building code also already allows case-by-case exceptions when local agencies determine charging is infeasible, including when utilities cannot supply enough power or when added utility infrastructure would drive up project costs. Assembly Bill 2748 would go further by creating a broad affordable-housing carveout instead of relying on project-specific findings. (hcd.ca.gov) California is trying to expand affordable housing and electrify transportation at the same time, and this bill puts those goals on the same line item. Lawmakers now have to decide whether low-income tenants in buildings approved this decade will get guaranteed access to a charger at home. (canarymedia.com)