CaliforniaCalifornia Environmental Quality Act: judicial streamlining: state of emergency: wildfire.
What it does
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.
More detail
This bill would require, on and after January 1, 2027, for a project, located in a geographic area for which the Governor declared a state of emergency on or after January 1, 2023, that is to maintain, repair, restore, demolish, or replace property or facilities damaged or destroyed by wildfire, and the project is not otherwise exempt from CEQA, as specified, the lead agency to prepare the record of proceeding concurrently with the administrative process. The bill would also require an action or proceeding brought to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the certification of an environmental impact report, or the adoption of a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration, for the project to be resolved, to the extent feasible, within 270 calendar days of the filing of the certified record of proceedings. The bill would require an applicant to agree to pay the costs of the trial court and court of appeal in hearing and deciding any action or proceeding brought under these provisions, as provided. The bill would require the Judicial Council to adopt rules of court to implement these requirements. The bill would require the project to be consistent with the applicable zoning and land use ordinances. By requiring a lead agency to prepare the record of proceedings concurrently with the administrative process, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 10Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 550, Statutes of 2025.Latest
- Oct 10Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Sep 17Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.To Governor
- Sep 9Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2717.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB676 Limón et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Sep 8In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 676 Limón Senate Third Reading By Bennett. Result: pass.Lower
- Sep 8Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3008.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Sep 3Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Sep 2Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 29From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 20August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Jul 16From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jul 16Coauthors revised.
- Jul 15
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jul 9Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Jul 8From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 7).Major
- Jul 7
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 9Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and JUD.Minor
- Jun 4In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Jun 3Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1453.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB676 Limón et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 29Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 29From special consent calendar on motion of Senator Gonzalez.
- May 27Ordered to special consent calendar.
- May 23Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1209.) (May 23).Minor
- May 16Set for hearing May 23.
- May 5May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 25Set for hearing May 5.
- Apr 23From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 836.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 22
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 10Set for hearing April 22.
- Apr 9Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Apr 3From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 635.) (April 2). Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Apr 2
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Rules]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 24From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.Major
- Mar 11Set for hearing April 2.
- Mar 5Referred to Com. on E.Q.Minor
- Feb 24Read first time.Minor
- Feb 24From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
- Feb 21Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced