Bill > AB145

This bill makes several significant modifications to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) related to housing development, industrial projects, and environmental review. Specifically, the bill would require full CEQA review for rezonings that would allow construction of bed and breakfast inns, hotels, motels, or other transient lodging, even if the rezoning was part of an approved housing element. For housing development projects previously eligible for limited environmental review due to a single disqualifying condition, the bill now excludes projects over 4 acres or builder's remedy projects from that limited review. The bill also repeals the existing CEQA exemption for advanced manufacturing facilities and replaces it with a new exemption for manufacturing facilities producing specific types of products like energy storage systems, renewable energy components, microelectronics, and zero-emission vehicles, provided the project meets certain conditions such as being located in an industrial zone, not near sensitive receptors, and demonstrating "high road employment standards" that include fair wages, worker training, safe working conditions, and compliance with labor laws. The bill appropriates $10,000 to the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation for implementation and is designed to be part of the Budget Act of 2025, allowing it to take effect immediately.

Budget and Finance

Budget (Assembly)

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB145