Bill > SB299

This bill modifies several sections of California's Government Code related to local government ordinances and zoning processes. It changes the rules for how quickly counties and cities can pass ordinances, removing the requirement that ordinances cannot be passed within five days of publication, while still allowing urgency ordinances to be passed immediately upon introduction. The bill also introduces a streamlined, ministerial approval process for zoning ordinance updates that are necessary to align with changes in a city or county's general plan. Specifically, the bill allows local governments to adopt zoning changes through a simplified process if certain conditions are met, such as ensuring the rezoning matches the general plan's land use designations and avoiding changes that would impact natural and protected lands, industrial zones, or sites with significant environmental considerations. By establishing this ministerial approval process for certain housing and zoning developments, the bill effectively expands the exemption for ministerial project approvals under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), potentially making it easier for local governments to update zoning regulations and approve housing developments that align with their general plans.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB299