Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled draft legislation designed to simplify the permitting process for new oil wells—but only within existing California oil fields. The proposal introduces a “plug‑to‑drill” requirement through 2036, mandating that companies permanently plug two existing wells before drilling a new one and the same field. It further allows new well permits to bypass review by California’s Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM), provided the regulations’ conditions are satisfied..
