SB 1375: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: urban intermodal rail station project.

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.

Existing law exempts from CEQA a public project for the improvement, institution, or increase of passenger rail service, including the maintenance, construction, or rehabilitation of stations, terminals, or existing operations facilities that will be exclusively used by zero-emission trains or specified rolling stock or locomotives, as provided.

This bill would exempt from CEQA, except as specified, a public urban, intermodal rail station project within a long-urbanized area within the statewide passenger rail network, at which high-capacity light, commuter, and intercity rail services converge that meets specified conditions, including, among other requirements, a requirement for compliance with various environmental laws and for the adoption of a plan for how any displacement from the project will be fully addressed, as provided. The bill would require a lead agency, if it determines that a project is not subject to CEQA pursuant to this exemption, and it determines to carry out the project, to file a notice of exemption with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the county clerk of the county in which the project is located, as provided. The bill would permit exemption only for projects for which a notice of exemption is filed before January 1, 2032. Because a lead agency would be required to determine the applicability of 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 2

“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. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 1030, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 21, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 18, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5515.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 13, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. August 13, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 6151.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. August 6, 2026Ordered to third reading.
8. August 6, 2026Read third time and amended.
9. August 6, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 5, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).
11. July 2, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
12. July 2, 2026From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 22).