California Climate Disclosure Laws: Compliance Strategy for SB 253 and SB 261
CARB Guidance for GHG Reporting Under SB 253, Climate-Related Financial Risk Disclosures Under SB 261, Aligning With AB 1305
Course Details
- smart_display Format
Live Online with Live Q&A
- signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level
Intermediate
- work Practice Area
Corporate Law
- event Date
Thursday, October 23, 2025
- schedule Time
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
- timer Program Length
90 minutes
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This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
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This CLE webinar will guide attorneys and in-house counsel through the latest developments in California's expansive climate disclosure laws, including SB 253 (GHG emissions reporting) and SB 261 (climate-related financial risk disclosures). The panel will address the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) recently released July 2025 FAQs, updated timelines, public docketing process, and "good-faith" enforcement guidance, as well as litigation challenges that may affect future compliance obligations.
Ms. Haskins represents clients in environmental and energy litigation, regulation, and compliance matters before federal, state, and administrative courts and commissions. Her experience includes representing clients in matters involving environmental, health and safety (EHS), including Clean Water Act issues, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and PFAS, OSHA and California Proposition 65 claims. Ms. Haskins also provides environmental due diligence on real estate transactional matters, including brownfield developments, and counsels clients on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) risk management strategy.
Ms. Schlag advises clients on a wide range of environmental, social, and governance issues, providing strategic and practical guidance. She helps clients navigate emerging challenges by finding policy, regulatory, and transactional solutions to manage complex environmental, social, and governance risks.
California's regulations cover a range of companies "doing business" in the state exceeding specific revenue thresholds. Counsel must be ready to guide clients on applicability, deadlines, and disclosure processes. The panel will discuss how to construe CARB's latest procedural guidance, tackle data collection challenges, and integrate TCFD/ISSB-aligned reporting frameworks. The discussion will also explore executing compliance, including governance, internal controls, vendor and supply-chain contracting, and preparing for assurance requirements.
The panel will discuss litigation risks and constitutional challenges to SB 253 and SB 261, as well as effective methods to align California's requirements with SEC climate rules and California's AB 1305 on voluntary carbon market disclosures.
Listen as our expert panel covers how to assess company applicability and build compliance systems as well as advise clients on continuing developments in California's climate disclosure laws.
I. Introduction and definitions
II. Deadlines and disclosure mechanics
A. SB 261 Jan 2026 reports
B. CARB public docket
C. SB 253 phased GHG reporting
III. Changes in CARB's July 2025 FAQs
A. Enforcement discretion, reporting periods
B. Procedural clarifications
IV. Litigation and constitutional challenges; status and practical implications
V. Operating compliance: governance, data management, vendor contracting
VI. Intersection with SEC climate rule and AB 1305
VII. Practitioner takeaways
The panel will review these and other critical issues:
- Covered entities, current deadlines, and CARB's docketing requirements for SB 261
- Using CARB's July 2025 FAQs to create actionable compliance plans
- Litigation risk and why disclosures proceed absent a stay
- Developing internal controls and data strategies aligned to TCFD/ISSB
- Aligning with AB 1305, SEC climate rules, and CSRD to streamline compliance
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