Get The Facts

Streamlined Approvals — More Predictability & Accountability

Enforceable timelines: Agencies must approve or deny project applications within 365 days. If they miss the deadline, applicants can request a public hearing or workshop, where a final decision must be made within 60 days.
Objective Standards: Agencies must base their review on clear, written rules—like local ordinances, environmental laws or zoning standards—that were in place when the application was submitted.
Guaranteed public input: Establishes a firm 45-day public comment period with written responses to all timely comments—ensuring public participation and accountability.
Streamlined, smarter alternatives: Narrows the “alternatives” requirement to two options: one feasible alternative project design that reduces environmental impacts, and one describing a "no project" scenario.
Strong worker protections: Projects built under the Act must meet California’s strongest-in-the-nation labor standards, including fair pay and safe job sites.
Tribal protections: Protects and strengthens government-to-government consultation through early tribal engagement, by incorporating Tribal Traditional Knowledge, and by enhancing confidentiality protections.

Firm Judicial Timelines: Courts must fully resolve legal challenges within 270 days.
Fix What’s Broken: If one part of an environmental review document is rejected, only that section must be fixed—allowing the rest of the project to move forward on schedule.
Objective Standards: Courts may only overturn project approvals if agencies ignore clear, written rules—like zoning or environmental standards—that were in place when the application was submitted.
Evidence-Based Review: Courts must uphold a project's approval if the agency's decision was supported by substantial evidence.