Bill > SB232

This bill requires the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to conduct a comprehensive study on "locked-in guidelines" within the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a law designed to assess environmental impacts of proposed projects. Specifically, the bill defines "locked-in guidelines" as the regulatory framework in effect when a project's initial notice of preparation is issued, which would then remain consistent throughout the project's environmental review process, even if guidelines change. The study will evaluate how these locked-in guidelines could impact regulatory certainty for project proponents, lead agencies, and stakeholders, assess potential effects on the speed and efficiency of environmental reviews, examine potential impacts on review quality, and identify best practices for balancing regulatory consistency with adaptability to emerging environmental challenges. The office must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature by January 1, 2027, detailing findings, recommendations, and proposed actions to improve the environmental review process. The provisions of this bill will automatically expire on January 1, 2028, making it a time-limited study to explore potential improvements to the CEQA review process.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB232