California · 2025–26 Regular Session · Senate Bill
SB 252: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: undergrounding powerlines.
Did not advance Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
- Did not advance
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 252 is a senate bill introduced in the California Senate on February 3, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: undergrounding powerlines. Primary sponsor: Suzette Martinez Valladares (R). Most recent recorded action (February 2, 2026): Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
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 the provisions of CEQA a project to underground powerlines. Because a lead agency would be required to determine if a project qualifies for this exemption, this 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): Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzette Martinez Valladares | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 23 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
- April 2 set for second hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Set for hearing April 2.
- March 19 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Set for hearing March 19.
- Referred to Coms. on E.Q. and E., U & C.
- From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 6.
- Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.