CARB Delays SB 253 Emissions Reporting Deadline
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has extended the compliance deadline for the state’s emissions disclosure law, Senate Bill 253, the California Corporate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program (authorized by SB 253, as amended by SB 219). The change gives covered companies an additional three months to report their Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions
CARB announced that it is delaying the reporting deadline from Aug. 10 - Nov. 10. The agency also indicated it plans to propose “limited changes” to the regulation as part of this process.
Read CARB’s announcement of the delay here, and read additional coverage here.
As a reminder, SB 261, the Climate-Related Financial Risk Reporting Act, is currently under a stay. Enforcement has been enjoined by the Ninth Circuit, meaning CARB is not enforcing SB 261 and reporting under that law is effectively voluntary while the appeal is pending. By contrast, SB 253 remains in effect and is moving forward, as it is not subject to the injunction.
Key Deadlines
- Aug.10 – Original deadline for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reporting under SB 253
- Nov.10 – New extended deadline for SB 253 reporting following CARB’s delay
- Ongoing (pending appeal) – SB 261 reporting remains voluntary, as enforcement is currently enjoined
What This Means for Industry
- More time to prepare – Companies now have an additional three months to gather emissions data, address reporting gaps, and ensure accuracy.
- Regulatory uncertainty remains – CARB’s planned “limited changes” signal that reporting requirements could still evolve before final implementation.
- Dual-track compliance landscape – While SB 253 is moving forward and enforceable, SB 261 remains in limbo, requiring companies to monitor both programs closely.
- Continued compliance investment – Despite the delay, companies should continue to build internal systems, vendor data-collection processes, and verification frameworks.
- Heightened scrutiny ahead—the extension does not reduce obligations; regulators and stakeholders are likely to expect more complete and reliable disclosures when reporting begins.
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Market Insights with Mike is a series presented by the Auto Care Association's Director of Market Intelligence, Mike Chung, that is dedicated to analyzing market-influencing trends as they happen and their potential effects on your business and the auto care industry.
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