California Senate Bill 261 (the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act; SB 261) requires certain businesses to submit biennial disclosures of climate-related financial risks, as well as the measures they have implemented to reduce such risks. U.S. organized entities “doing business in California” with “revenues” exceeding $500 million in the prior year are subject to this requirement. A similar law, California Senate Bill 253 (the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act; SB 253), requires regulated companies to annually disclose their emissions beginning in June 2026.
The initial set of disclosures required under SB 261 are due to be posted on a regulated company’s website by Jan. 1, 2026, and submitted to the California Air Resource Board (CARB) by July 1, 2026. While SB 261 is currently being challenged in court, these deadlines have not been extended.