AB 609: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: housing development 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. CEQA exempts from its requirements various projects, including, but not limited to, housing projects that meet certain requirements.

This bill would exempt from the requirements of CEQA a housing development project, as defined, that meets certain conditions relating to, for example, size, density, and location, including specific requirements for any housing on the project site located within 500 feet of a freeway. The bill would require a local government, as a condition of approval for the development, to require the development proponent to complete a specified environmental assessment regarding hazardous substance releases. If a recognized environmental condition is found, the bill would require the development proponent to complete a preliminary endangerment assessment and specified mitigation based on that assessment. Because a lead agency would be required to determine whether a housing development project qualifies for this exemption, 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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 10 · Republican 3

“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. May 20, 2025In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2. May 19, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 67. Noes 0. Page 1603.)
3. May 15, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
4. May 14, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).
5. May 6, 2025Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
6. May 5, 2025Read second time and amended.
7. May 1, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (April 30).
8. April 28, 2025Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.
9. April 24, 2025Read second time and amended.
10. April 23, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 21).
11. April 21, 2025(Pending re-refer to Com. on H. & C. D.)
12. April 21, 2025Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 1163.)