Bill Sponsor
California Senate Bill 676
Session 20252026
California Environmental Quality Act: judicial streamlining: state of emergency: wildfire.
Became Law
Became Law
Became Law on Oct 10, 2025
Sponsors
First Action
Feb 21, 2025
Latest Action
Oct 10, 2025
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
676
State
California
Session
20252026
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Coauthor
Democrat
Principal Coauthor
Democrat
Principal Coauthor
Democrat
Coauthor
Republican
Coauthor
Democrat
Principal Coauthor
Democrat
Principal Coauthor
Democrat
Coauthor
Summary
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. This bill would require, on and after January 1, 2027, for a project, located in a geographic area for which the Governor declared a state of emergency on or after January 1, 2023, that is to maintain, repair, restore, demolish, or replace property or facilities damaged or destroyed by wildfire, and the project is not otherwise exempt from CEQA, as specified, the lead agency to prepare the record of proceeding concurrently with the administrative process. The bill would also require an action or proceeding brought to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the certification of an environmental impact report, or the adoption of a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration, for the project to be resolved, to the extent feasible, within 270 calendar days of the filing of the certified record of proceedings. The bill would require an applicant to agree to pay the costs of the trial court and court of appeal in hearing and deciding any action or proceeding brought under these provisions, as provided. The bill would require the Judicial Council to adopt rules of court to implement these requirements. The bill would require the project to be consistent with the applicable zoning and land use ordinances. By requiring a lead agency to prepare the record of proceedings concurrently with the administrative process, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Documents (9)
10/10/2025
California State Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 550, Statutes of 2025.
10/10/2025
California State Legislature
Approved by the Governor.
09/17/2025
California State Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
09/09/2025
Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
09/08/2025
Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
09/08/2025
Assembly
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3008.) Ordered to the Senate.
09/03/2025
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
09/02/2025
Assembly
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
08/29/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).
08/20/2025
Assembly
August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.
07/16/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
07/16/2025
Assembly
Coauthors revised.
07/09/2025
Assembly
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
07/08/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 7).
06/09/2025
Assembly
Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and JUD.
06/04/2025
Assembly
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
06/03/2025
Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1453.) Ordered to the Assembly.
05/29/2025
Senate
Ordered to third reading.
05/29/2025
Senate
From special consent calendar on motion of Senator Gonzalez.
05/27/2025
Senate
Ordered to special consent calendar.
05/23/2025
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
05/23/2025
Senate
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1209.) (May 23).
05/16/2025
Senate
Set for hearing May 23.
05/05/2025
Senate
May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
04/25/2025
Senate
Set for hearing May 5.
04/23/2025
Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 836.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
04/10/2025
Senate
Set for hearing April 22.
04/09/2025
Senate
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
04/03/2025
Senate
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 635.) (April 2). Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
03/24/2025
Senate
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.
03/11/2025
Senate
Set for hearing April 2.
03/05/2025
Senate
Referred to Com. on E.Q.
02/24/2025
Senate
Read first time.
02/24/2025
Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.
02/21/2025
Senate
Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 22, 2025 6:02:53 AM
Record Updated
Oct 14, 2025 8:49:39 AM