SB 299: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: day care center: zoning.

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 specified projects from CEQA, including a project that consists exclusively of a day care center, as defined, that is not located in a residential area.

This bill would exempt from CEQA a project that consists exclusively of a day care center, as defined, that is located in a residential area, except as provided. By imposing additional duties on a lead agency to determine the applicability of these exemptions, 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 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. September 20, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 413, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 20, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 2, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 27, 2026Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
5. August 25, 2026In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
6. August 25, 2026Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 6518.) Ordered to the Senate.
7. August 21, 2026Ordered to third reading.
8. August 21, 2026Read third time and amended.
9. August 21, 2026Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended. (Ayes 55. Noes 17. Page 6296.)
10. August 6, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. August 5, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).
12. August 5, 2026Coauthors revised.