Proposition 45
Speed up environmental reviews for housing and infrastructure
Proposition 45, or the “Building an Affordable California Act,” would overhaul the state’s environmental review law, the California Environmental Quality Act. Sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce, the measure aims to help developers build certain projects more quickly and easily, with the idea that it’ll lower costs for residents. The measure would impose a 365-day limit on environmental reviews for projects it designates as the most essential, including infrastructure like roads and bridges, along with schools, broadband, and wildfire mitigation. It would also require courts to rule within 270 days on lawsuits related to the environmental review law.
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Summary
Support
The California Chamber of Commerce says the state’s environmental review law is outdated and allows for too much expensive bureaucracy and frivolous litigation that slows down development. The delays, the chamber says, ultimately increase costs that are passed down to taxpayers and consumers. The group argues the measure will speed up development while keeping essential environmental protections in place.
More than 100 organizations — including, business, energy and healthcare groups — support the measure.
Oppose
Opponents of the measure say the state’s environmental review law exists to protect people and the environment from potentially harmful developments. Weakening environmental review requirements, they say, would strip agencies of the tools they have to protect communities, increase costly litigation, and practically eliminate their ability to enforce the law. The long-term costs of poor planning, they say, will be passed onto agencies and taxpayers.
More than 200 environmental justice and public health organizations oppose the measure.
People and organizations
Support
- California Chamber of Commerce
- The California Hospital Association
- California Children’s Hospital Association
- California Primary Care Association
- California Hydrogen Coalition
- Agricultural Council of California
- California Wind Energy Association
- California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
- California Council for Affordable Housing
- California League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
- California Housing Consortium
- California Building Industry Association
Oppose
- Communities for a Better Environment
- Beyond Plastics
- Physicians for Social Responsibility- Los Angeles
- Western Center on Law & Poverty
- Californians Against Waste
- Clean Water Action
- Sierra Club California
- Clean Air Coalition
- Learning Disabilities Association of California
- California Nurses for Environmental Health and Justice
- Center for Food Safety
Commentary
Ballot text
MODIFIES ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Amends California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to expedite environmental review for certain projects (including most housing, transportation, water, and health projects) by setting deadlines to complete environmental review and resolve lawsuits challenging project approvals. Fiscal Impact: Initial costs for state and local governments, likely in the high tens of millions of dollars potentially exceeding $100 million–annually, partly covered by fees. Uncertain, potentially more significant positive or negative longer-term fiscal effects.
Source: California Secretary of State
