Assembly BillIntroducedPublic Resources
AB 2736: California Environmental Quality Act.
What AB 2736 does, verified February 24, 2026
The bill aims to make nonsubstantive changes to the environmental quality act. The California Environmental Quality Act requires a lead agency to prepare and certify an environmental impact report for projects that may have a significant effect on the environment. The report must consider mitigating measures to minimize the impact. The bill updates the state's intent to regulate activities to prevent environmental damage, while maintaining a quality environment for the people of California.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: From printer. May be heard in committee March 23. (2026-02-21)Alert me
Author and sponsors
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| Feb. 21, 2026 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 23. |
| Feb. 20, 2026 | Read first time. To print. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 20, 2026 · 521 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2736
| Introduced by Assembly Member Johnson |
February 20, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 21000 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2736, as introduced, Johnson. California Environmental Quality Act.
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.
CEQA makes various legislative findings and declarations regarding the maintenance of a quality environment for the people of this state and states the intent of the Legislature for state agencies to regulate activities so that major consideration is given to preventing environmental damage.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those findings and declarations and to the statement of intent.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 21000 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21000.
The Legislature finds and declares(a) The maintenance of a quality environment for the people of this state now and in the future is a matter of statewide concern.
(b) It is necessary to provide a high-quality environment that at all times is healthful and pleasing to the senses and intellect of man. people.
(c) There is a need to understand the relationship between the maintenance of high-quality ecological systems and the general welfare of the people of the state, including their enjoyment of the natural resources of the state.
(d) The capacity of the environment is limited, and it is the intent of the Legislature that the government of the state take immediate steps to identify any critical thresholds for the health and safety of the people of the state and take all coordinated actions necessary to prevent such those thresholds being reached.
(e) Every citizen has a responsibility to contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the environment.
(f) The interrelationship of policies and practices in the management of natural resources and waste disposal requires systematic and concerted efforts by public and private interests to enhance environmental quality and to control environmental pollution.
(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that all agencies of the state government which that regulate activities of private individuals, corporations, and public agencies which that are found to affect the quality of the environment, environment shall regulate such those activities so that major consideration is given to preventing environmental damage, while providing a decent home and satisfying living environment for every Californian. all Californians.
Text of AB 2736 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions