AB 571: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery.

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 exempts from its requirements various projects, including, but not limited to, housing projects that meet certain requirements and activities and approvals related to certain prison facilities.

This bill would exempt from the requirements of CEQA any activity or approval necessary for the completion of the Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery in the County of Orange if specified conditions are met. To the extent that a local agency would be required to determine whether an activity or approval qualifies for this exemption, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would repeal this provision on January 1, 2030.

This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery in the County of Orange.

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 7 · Republican 7

“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. October 1, 2025Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 158, Statutes of 2025.
2. October 1, 2025Approved by the Governor.
3. September 9, 2025Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. September 3, 2025Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 2858.).
5. September 2, 2025In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. September 2, 2025Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2393.).
7. August 20, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 19, 2025From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
9. July 15, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
10. June 19, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
11. June 18, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 18).
12. May 28, 2025Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and M. & V.A.