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SB-676 • 2026

California Environmental Quality Act: judicial streamlining: state of emergency: wildfire.

California Environmental Quality Act: judicial streamlining: state of emergency: wildfire.

Education Land
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Limón (S) , Blakespear
Last action
2025-10-10
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 550, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's effective date is not specified in the provided information.

California Environmental Quality Act: Streamlining Wildfire Recovery Projects

SB-676 streamlines the process for projects to repair, restore, or replace property damaged by wildfires in areas declared a state of emergency after January 1, 2023.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires lead agencies to prepare records of proceedings concurrently with administrative processes for wildfire recovery projects starting January 1, 2027.
  • Limits legal challenges against environmental impact reports or negative declarations to be resolved within 270 days after filing the certified record of proceedings.
  • Requires applicants to agree to pay court costs if they bring a lawsuit under these provisions.
  • Directs the Judicial Council to create rules for implementing these requirements.
  • Ensures that projects comply with zoning and land use ordinances.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Lead agencies responsible for approving wildfire recovery projects.
  • Applicants seeking approval for such projects.
  • Courts handling legal challenges related to these projects.

Terms To Know

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
A document that evaluates the environmental effects of a project and suggests ways to reduce negative impacts.
Negative Declaration
A statement by an agency saying a proposed project will not have significant environmental effects.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact details of how court costs will be calculated or paid.
  • It is unclear what happens if legal challenges cannot be resolved within the 270-day limit.
  • The effectiveness and implementation timeline are dependent on future actions by the Judicial Council.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-10 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 550, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-10 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-17 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-09 California Legislative Information

    Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2717.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-08 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

  6. 2025-09-08 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 3008.) Ordered to the Senate.

  7. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  8. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  9. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 29).

  10. 2025-08-20 California Legislative Information

    August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  11. 2025-07-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 15). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  12. 2025-07-16 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  13. 2025-07-09 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

  14. 2025-07-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 7).

  15. 2025-06-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and JUD.

  16. 2025-06-04 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  17. 2025-06-03 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1453.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  18. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to third reading.

  19. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    From special consent calendar on motion of Senator Gonzalez.

  20. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to special consent calendar.

  21. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  22. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1209.) (May 23).

  23. 2025-05-16 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 23.

  24. 2025-05-05 California Legislative Information

    May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  25. 2025-04-25 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 5.

  26. 2025-04-23 California Legislative Information

    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.

  27. 2025-04-10 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 22.

  28. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

  29. 2025-04-03 California Legislative Information

    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.

  30. 2025-03-24 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E.Q.

  31. 2025-03-11 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 2.

  32. 2025-03-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on E.Q.

  33. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  34. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.

  35. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 676, Limón.
California Environmental Quality Act: judicial streamlining: state of emergency: wildfire.
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.

Current Bill Text

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