Ninth Circuit Pauses California Climate Risk Reporting Law, Lets Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act Proceed

On November 18, 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to temporarily stay implementation of California SB 261, the state's corporate climate-related financial risk reporting law, while an appeal is pending related to an industry group-led challenge to the law. In the short ruling, the Ninth Circuit denied the motion to stay implementation of the companion bill, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (also referred to as SB 253). Oral argument on the appeal is scheduled for January 9, shortly after the first deadline under SB 261, which is January 1, 2026. Meanwhile, SB 253's first deadline is not until June 30, 2026 (with the recent indication that this will likely be pushed back to August 10, 2026). As such, the difference in the ruling may simply reflect the difference in deadlines.