Bill > AB2231

This bill establishes streamlined administrative and judicial review procedures under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)—a state law that requires public agencies to study and disclose the environmental impacts of proposed projects—for a qualifying hospital campus construction project in the City of Santa Clara. Prompted by anticipated federal health care funding reductions under federal law, the legislation aims to accelerate the development of critical health care infrastructure before hospital financial margins are constrained. To qualify for this judicial streamlining, which requires courts to endeavor to resolve legal challenges within 270 days, the city council must certify that the project meets strict criteria, including a minimum one-billion-dollar investment, achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, earning a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification or better, reducing per capita vehicle travel, and committing to strict labor standards such as paying prevailing wages and employing a skilled and trained workforce.