AB 2620: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: wireless telecommunications facility: broadband internet access projects.

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.

This bill would exempt from CEQA projects for the installation of a wireless telecommunications facility, as defined, or a broadband internet access project, as defined, that is not a small wireless facility, as defined. Because a lead agency would be required to determine whether a project would qualify for this exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.

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.

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. April 16, 2026In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2. March 17, 2026Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.
3. March 16, 2026From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on NAT. RES. Read second time and amended.
4. March 16, 2026Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and C. & C.
5. February 21, 2026From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
6. February 20, 2026Read first time. To print.