AB 1553: California Environmental Quality Act: notice: direct mailing: electronic mail.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

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 requires a lead agency that is preparing an environmental impact report, a negative declaration, or making other determinations, to provide public notice of that fact within a reasonable period of time, as provided. CEQA requires a lead agency to give notice to the last known name and address of all organizations and individuals who have previously requested notice, and to give notice by posting the notice on the internet website of the lead agency, and to give notice through one of 3 different procedures, including direct mailing to the owners and occupants of contiguous property shown on the latest equalized assessment roll. Existing law also requires, for a project involving the burning of municipal wastes, hazardous waste, or refuse-derived fuel, to give notice by direct mailing to the owners and occupants of property within 14 of a mile of any parcel or parcels, as specified.

This bill would authorize a lead agency to satisfy the direct mailing requirements listed above by electronic mail if the recipient affirmatively requested to receive notice by electronic mail.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. March 17, 2026Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
2. March 16, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
3. March 16, 2026Referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
4. January 9, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee February 8.
5. January 8, 2026Read first time. To print.