Assemblyman Warns the 'Free State of California' Is Laying Groundwork for Gas Appliance Ban

California Restaurant Association says Berkeley will halt ban on natural gas piping in new buildings | AP News

"The city of Berkeley, California, has agreed to halt enforcement of a ban on natural gas piping in new homes and buildings that was successfully opposed in court by the California Restaurant Association, the organization said.

"The settlement follows the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ refusal to reconsider a 2023 ruling that the ban violates federal law that gives the U.S. government the authority to set energy-efficiency standards for appliances, the association said in a statement last week.

"“While the Ninth Circuit’s ruling renders this particular ordinance unenforceable, Berkeley will continue to be a leader in climate action,” Berkeley City Attorney Farimah Faiz Brown said in an email to The Associated Press.

"The restaurant association said Berkeley agreed to settle the case by taking steps to repeal its ordinance, but because the process will take several months, the city will immediately stop enforcing the ban to comply with the court ruling.

"In 2019, Berkeley became the first U.S. city to adopt a ban on natural gas in new homes and buildings, starting a climate change-driven move in many other cities and counties that morphed into a culture war over the future of gas stoves..

"The California Restaurant Association filed suit in federal court to overturn Berkeley’s ban."  

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Assemblyman Warns the 'Free State of California' Is Laying Groundwork for Gas Appliance Ban

CA Democrats just passed SB 1359 as they advance their INSANE plan to BAN all natural gas appliances in every home! If the ban is imposed, experts warn it will cost the average homeowner $30K in retrofit costs to remove gas and convert to all-electric appliances.  WATCH: https://t.co/HYtFHYuxPe

— Carl DeMaio (@carldemaio) September 14, 2026

"Not long ago, California Gov. Gavin Newsom touted his state as "free" in a failed attempt to attack the Trump administration. California is anything but free, of course. Newsom has been handed multiple losses in courts over unconstitutional laws that violate Californians' right to free speech and guns, he's poised to sign more unconstitutional legislation that would unfairly punish federal ICE agents and bar them from state jobs, and Democrats in Sacramento want to limit what sort of tires you can buy for your car, which they're also imposing a mileage tax on.

"Free."

"Sure, Gavin.

"The state is also on the brink of banning all natural gas appliances in the state, in every single home. This will cost the average California homeowner tens of thousands of dollars to remove gas connections and install electric. On a grid that's notoriously unreliable anyway. Imagine not being able to cook during rolling brownouts.

"Carl DeMaio, a member of the state assembly, is sounding the alarm." . . .