SB 231: California Environmental Quality Act: the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation: technical advisory.
The bill requires the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to develop a technical advisory on thresholds of significance for greenhouse gas and noise pollution effects on the environment. This advisory will provide suggested thresholds of significance for all areas of the state and will assist local agencies in determining the impact of their projects on the environment. The advisory will be posted on the Office's website and local agencies may elect to adopt these suggested thresholds of significance. The goal of this bill is to improve the environmental impact assessment process in California.
| Feb. 02, 2026 | Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| May. 23, 2025 | May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| May. 16, 2025 | Set for hearing May 23. |
| Apr. 07, 2025 | April 7 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Mar. 28, 2025 | Set for hearing April 7. |
| Amended IN Senate March 20, 2025 |
| Introduced by Senator Seyarto (Coauthors: Senators Choi, Niello, Ochoa Bogh, and Valladares) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Alanis, Chen, and Lackey) |
January 28, 2025 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
CEQA requires the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, formerly named the Office of Planning and Research, to prepare and develop, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to certify and adopt, guidelines for the implementation of CEQA. CEQA requires the guidelines to specifically include criteria for public agencies to follow in determining whether or not a proposed project may have a significant effect on the environment.
This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2027, the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to prepare and develop, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency to certify and adopt, guidelines in Appendix O of the CEQA guidelines to establish best practices for public agencies to follow in determining whether or not a proposed project may have a significant effect on the environment when completing Appendix G of the CEQA guidelines. The bill would require the best practices to consider, and include identifiable thresholds of significance based on, specified state and federal environmental laws. The bill would authorize the office, in developing those guidelines, to consult with local, regional, state, and federal agencies that have authority and expertise on those subjects.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 21083.06 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:21083.06.
(a) On or before July 1, 2027, the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation shall consult with regional, local, state, and federal agencies to develop a technical advisory on thresholds of significance for greenhouse gas and noise pollution effects on the environment to assist local agencies. The technical advisory shall provide suggested thresholds of significance for all areas of the state. In developing the suggested thresholds of significance for specific areas of the state, the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation may consider all of the following:(a)On or before July 1, 2027, the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation shall prepare and develop, and the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency shall certify and adopt, guidelines in Appendix O of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15000) of Division 6 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations to establish best practices for public agencies to follow in determining whether or not a proposed project may have a significant effect on the environment, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 21083, when completing Appendix G of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15000) of Division 6 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations. The best practices shall consider, and include identifiable thresholds of significance based on, all of the following:
(1)The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code) for greenhouse gas emissions.
(2)The federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq.) for vehicle miles traveled.
(3)The California Noise Control Act of 1973 (Division 28 (commencing with Section 46000) of the Health and Safety Code) for noise pollution.
(b)In developing guidelines pursuant to subdivision (a), the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation may consult with local, regional, state, and federal agencies that have authority and expertise on those subjects.