On Friday, February 22, Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) introduced a bill outlining proposed revisions to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A substantial CEQA reform bill championed by Senator Michael Rubio (D-Shafter) was highly anticipated in this legislative session. But, earlier in the day on Friday, Senator Rubio announced his resignation from the California State Senate and in the wake of that resignation, Senator Steinberg’s CEQA bill was introduced.
Senate Bill 731 (SB 731) proposes only modest changes to CEQA. While the details of the changes have not yet been developed, the bill outlines a number of intended changes. Stoel Rives’ Environmental Law Alert provides a summary of the bill. Our team will continue to monitor and provide updates on SB 731 as it progresses through the legislative process.