Senate BillFailedPublic Resources
SB 252: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: undergrounding powerlines.
What SB 252 does, verified February 3, 2026
This bill aims to exempt projects to underground powerlines from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Under CEQA, a lead agency must prepare an environmental impact report or a mitigated negative declaration for projects that may have a significant effect on the environment. This bill would allow undergrounding powerlines to avoid these requirements, as it is determined that the project would not have a significant environmental impact. The bill would also impose a state-mandated local program to determine if a project qualifies for the exemption. Reimbursement for costs related to this bill is not required for local agencies and school districts.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
2In CommitteeCurrent
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions8 total · showing 5
| Feb. 02, 2026 | Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Mar. 25, 2025 | April 2 set for second hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Mar. 12, 2025 | Set for hearing April 2. |
| Mar. 11, 2025 | March 19 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Mar. 07, 2025 | Set for hearing March 19. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 3, 2025 · 349 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 252
| Introduced by Senator Valladares |
February 03, 2025 |
An act to add Section 21080.08 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 252, as introduced, Valladares. California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: undergrounding powerlines.
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.
This bill would exempt from the provisions of CEQA a project to underground powerlines. Because a lead agency would be required to determine if a project qualifies for this exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 21080.08 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:21080.08.
This division does not apply to a project to underground powerlines.SEC. 2.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.Text of SB 252 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions