California Chamber Pushes Urgent Ballot Measure to Overhaul CEQA

UPDATE: The California Chamber of Commerce has just announced a major initiative to reshape the state’s environmental regulations. A proposed ballot measure, set for the November 2024 election, aims to significantly overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a law that has been in effect since 1970.

This urgent move seeks to cut through bureaucratic red tape, addressing California’s pressing housing and energy crisis by limiting environmental review processes to just 365 days. If supporters can gather 546,000 valid signatures by spring, the measure, dubbed the “Building an Affordable California Act,” will be on the ballot.

The implications of this measure are profound. It would impact a wide array of projects, including new reservoirs, solar farms, and public transit systems. Furthermore, it mandates that courts must decide on CEQA-related lawsuits within 270 days, potentially fast-tracking construction timelines across the state.

Jennifer Barrera, president of the California Chamber of Commerce, stated, “For decades, oversight has too often been co-opted by obstruction, threatening the common good. Modernizing that law won’t just ease California’s affordability crisis and boost our economy,” highlighting the urgency of this measure.

A political showdown is on the horizon, as this proposal is likely to ignite fierce debate among various stakeholders, including business groups, labor unions, and environmental advocates. Some environmentalists are already expressing strong opposition. Frances Tinney, an attorney from the Center for Biological Diversity, criticized the measure, calling it “an extreme and radical proposal” that aims to scapegoat CEQA for California’s broader issues.

CEQA has long been heralded as a cornerstone for public accountability in environmental review, ensuring that new projects consider factors like wildlife, air pollution, and traffic. However, critics argue that it has also been misused to delay essential developments. The call for reform comes amid growing concerns that CEQA has contributed to California’s housing shortage and skyrocketing costs.

Governor Gavin Newsom has not yet stated his position on the new measure, but he has previously acknowledged the need for reform, signing bills to streamline CEQA for certain housing and infrastructure projects. As the political landscape evolves, the pivotal question remains: How will unions and other influential groups position themselves in this debate?

The potential speed-up of project approvals raises significant questions about environmental protections. Critics worry that the new timelines could lead to inadequate reviews of projects that may pose risks to California’s ecology, such as a controversial $20 billion tunnel project under the Delta. John Myers, a spokesman for the Chamber, clarified that the ballot measure will not affect this project, promising “amended language” to address these concerns.

As the California Chamber of Commerce gears up for this campaign, all eyes will be on voter sentiment. Political analyst Jack Pitney emphasizes that how the measure is framed will be crucial. “If people perceive it as an attack on environmental regulation, it will be a difficult battle. But if they see it as a reform that will improve the economy and help the state create jobs, that could be different,” he noted.

With the clock ticking, the push to reform CEQA is shaping up to be one of the most significant political battles in California’s history. As stakeholders prepare for a multimillion-dollar campaign, the decisions made in the coming months will undoubtedly have lasting impacts on California’s future. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.