Bill > AB571

This bill provides a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption for the proposed Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery in Orange County, which would allow the cemetery's development to proceed without additional environmental review. The bill recognizes that Orange County is the state's largest county without a veterans cemetery, despite being home to over 90,000 veterans and multiple military bases, and aims to remove regulatory barriers to its construction. Specifically, the bill exempts the cemetery project from CEQA requirements if two conditions are met: the cemetery represents a less intensive land use than the previously analyzed Mountain Park Specific Plan, and the project has been reviewed in an environmental impact report (EIR) addendum. The exemption is time-limited, expiring on January 1, 2030, and was developed with broad local support, including endorsements from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, all 34 cities in the county, and veterans organizations. The bill is marked as an urgency statute, meaning it will take effect immediately, with the stated purpose of honoring veterans by expediting the establishment of a final resting place for military service members, first responders, and their families in Orange County.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Military Affairs and Security

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB571