SB-958 • 2026

California Environmental Quality Act: environmental impacts: building height.

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Weber Pierson
Last action: 2026-04-24
Official status: Set for hearing May 4.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact conditions under which increased building heights are exempt from being considered significant impacts and how lead agencies will determine if projects meet specified conditions for exemptions are not detailed in the official source.

California Environmental Quality Act: Building Height and Midway Rising Plan

SB-958 exempts projects related to the Midway Rising Specific Plan in San Diego from certain CEQA requirements if they conform with the plan's conditions, and prohibits increased building heights alone from being considered significant environmental impacts under CEQA if specific conditions are met.

What This Bill Does

Exempts projects associated with the Midway Rising Specific Plan in San Diego from CEQA requirements if they meet specified conditions related to sustainability.
Prohibits increased building height alone from being considered a significant environmental impact under CEQA, provided that certain conditions are met.

Who It Names or Affects

The City of San Diego
Lead agencies responsible for determining whether projects qualify for exemptions and preparing environmental impact reports
Developers working on projects in the Midway Rising Specific Plan area

Terms To Know

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): A law that requires government agencies to consider and disclose potential environmental impacts before approving or carrying out projects.
Lead agency: The main government body responsible for making decisions about a project, including preparing environmental impact reports.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify the exact conditions under which increased building heights are exempt from being considered significant impacts.
Does not provide details on how lead agencies will determine if projects meet specified conditions for exemptions.

Bill History

2026-04-24 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-22 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 22 in L. GOV. pending receipt.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
Set for hearing April 15.
2026-04-08 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Coms. on E.Q. and L. GOV.
2026-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-02-11 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2026-02-03 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 5.
2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 958, as amended, Weber Pierson.
California Environmental Quality Act:
exemption: City of San Diego: Midway Rising Specific Plan.
environmental impacts: building height.
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.
CEQA exempts from its requirements various activities and
projects.
This bill would exempt from the requirements of CEQA a project associated with the Midway Rising Specific Plan in the City of San Diego, including any activity or approval necessary for, or incidental to, development, planning, design, subdivision, financing, leasing, construction, operation, or maintenance, provided that the activity is carried out in substantial conformance with the plan and meets, or is consistent with, specified conditions, including conditions related to sustainability. Because a lead agency would be required to determine whether a project qualifies for this exemption, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of San Diego.
This bill would, for purposes of CEQA, prohibit the environmental impacts that are associated with increased building height alone from being considered significant impacts on the environment, if a project meets specified conditions, as provided. Because a lead agency would be required to determine if a project meets the specified conditions, the 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

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF