California · November 3, 2026 general election · Statewide ballot measure
Proposition 45: what your vote means
Environmental review for certain projects. On every California ballot. Official sources checked October 21, 2026.
Proposition 45 · Initiative statute
Environmental review for certain projects
MODIFIES ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
As printed in the Official Voter Information Guide, California Secretary of State (title prepared by the Attorney General).
A YES vote means:
Certain public and private projects (including most housing, transportation, water, and health projects) would get new review procedures under the California Environmental Quality Act, with tighter deadlines and narrower court review of challenges.
A NO vote means:
Projects would continue to use the existing review and court challenge procedures.
What it would change
- Who is affected: developers and agencies building eligible projects, and people who comment on or challenge them.
- What changes: binding time limits for environmental review, permits, and lawsuits; limits on public comment periods; and a narrower scope for court review.
- Taxes and fees: costs would be partly covered by fees.
- Fiscal impact (Legislative Analyst): initial state and local costs likely in the high tens of millions of dollars a year, possibly over $100 million; uncertain longer-term effects that could be positive or negative.
Official arguments, summarized
Short neutral summaries of the arguments printed in the official voters’ pamphlet. The committees that wrote them are responsible for their content. Read the full text at the link below.
Argument for
Supporters say faster reviews would lower costs and speed up housing, water, school, hospital, and energy projects while keeping environmental standards.
Argument against
Opponents say it would limit environmental and public review of projects and would not lower costs.
Arguments and rebuttals, Proposition 45, Official Voter Information Guide
Who supports it and who opposes it
These lists come from official campaign filings (registered committees) and public endorsements, each linked to its source. They are not complete, and SaveYourState does not endorse anyone listed. Lists checked October 30, 2026.
Who supports it
- California Children’s Hospital Association California Official Voter Information Guide, Nov. 3, 2026: arguments and rebuttals for Proposition 45
- California Council on Affordable Housing California Official Voter Information Guide, Nov. 3, 2026: arguments and rebuttals for Proposition 45
- California Water Association California Official Voter Information Guide, Nov. 3, 2026: arguments and rebuttals for Proposition 45
- Family Business Association of California California Official Voter Information Guide, Nov. 3, 2026: arguments and rebuttals for Proposition 45
Who opposes it
- American Nurses Association California California Official Voter Information Guide, Nov. 3, 2026: arguments and rebuttals for Proposition 45
- California Environmental Voters California Official Voter Information Guide, Nov. 3, 2026: arguments and rebuttals for Proposition 45
- Clean Water Action California Official Voter Information Guide, Nov. 3, 2026: arguments and rebuttals for Proposition 45
- Coalition for Clean Air California Official Voter Information Guide, Nov. 3, 2026: arguments and rebuttals for Proposition 45
- Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles California Official Voter Information Guide, Nov. 3, 2026: arguments and rebuttals for Proposition 45
Official sources
- Official Voter Information Guide: Proposition 45
- Official title and summary (Attorney General)
- Analysis and fiscal effects, Legislative Analyst
- Text of the proposed law (PDF)
SaveYourState is independent and nonpartisan, not a government site, and does not take positions on ballot measures. This explainer describes effects only, using the official ballot title, explanatory statement, full text, and fiscal impact statement. If anything here differs from those documents, the official documents control.