Bill > SB676

This bill modifies the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to expedite environmental review and legal challenges for reconstruction projects in areas affected by wildfires during a state of emergency. Specifically, the bill applies to projects located in geographic areas where the Governor has declared a state of emergency on or after January 1, 2023, and which involve maintaining, repairing, restoring, demolishing, or replacing property damaged by wildfire. The bill requires lead agencies to prepare the record of proceedings concurrently with the administrative process and mandates that any legal challenges to the project's environmental documentation be resolved within 270 calendar days, to the extent feasible. The project applicant must agree to pay all court costs associated with hearing and deciding legal challenges, including potentially appointing a special master. The project must also be consistent with existing zoning and land use ordinances, and the provisions do not apply to projects proposed after the state of emergency has been rescinded. The bill will take effect on January 1, 2027, and aims to streamline the reconstruction process in wildfire-damaged areas by reducing potential legal delays while maintaining environmental review standards.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB676