CA SB 954
vetoedCalifornia Environmental Quality Act: advanced manufacturing facilities: exemption.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did CA SB 954 pass?
No. CA SB 954 passed the legislature but was vetoed. Latest recorded action (2026-09-18): In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
What is CA SB 954 about?
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 defines various terms, including "natural and protected lands" for its purposes. This bill would revise the definition of that term to include habitats for protected species identified as candidate, sensitive, or species of special status by state or federal agencies. CEQA exempts from its requirement projects that consist exclusively of a day care center that is not located in a residential area and projects that consist exclusively of an advanced manufacturing facility located on a site zoned exclusively for industrial uses. This bill would additionally exempt projects consisting exclusively of a family day care home, as defined. The bill would, for the exemption for the day care center and family day care home, instead require the projects for those facilities not be located in an area zoned for industrial use or within 3,200 feet of a facility that actively extracts or refines oil or natural gas in order for the exemption to apply. The bill would revise the exemption for advanced manufacturing facility projects to require those projects to be used exclusively for final tier manufacturing, as defined. The bill would require an applicant of an advanced manufacturing project that is exempted from CEQA under the bill's requirement to enter into a bona fide community benefits agreement, as provided, and to comply with certain labor requirements, as provided. The bill would require the lead agency, before determining that an advanced manufacturing project is exempt from CEQA, to hold at least one public hearing on the project and to ensure that the applicant complies with the requirement to enter into a bona fide community benefits agreement and the labor requirements. CEQA exempts from its requirements a rezoning that implements the schedule of actions contained in an approved housing element. CEQA specifies that this exemption does not apply to a rezoning that would allow for the construction of certain facilities, including oil and gas infrastructure. CEQA also specifies that this exemption does not apply rezoning that would allow for construction to occur within the boundaries of any natural and protected lands, except as provided. This bill would repeal the exception from the CEQA exemption for rezoning that would allow for oil and gas infrastructure. The bill would specify that the definition of "natural and protected land" does not include habitats for protected species that would be added to that definition by this bill for purposes the exception for rezoning that would allow for construction to occur within the boundaries of any natural and protected lands to the CEQA exemption. CEQA specifies, for a proposed housing development project that would otherwise be exempt from its requirements but for a single condition required for the exemption to apply, that the application of CEQA is limited to the effects upon the environment that are caused by that single condition. CEQA provides that this limited application of CEQA does not apply if the proposed housing project is located on natural and protected land, but does not include "natural and protected land" that is a site within a very high fire hazard severity zone or within the state responsibility area, except as provided. This bill would additionally specify that "natural and protected land" does not include habitats for protected species that would be added to that definition by this bill. Because the bill would impose additional duties on a lead agency, 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.
Who sponsors CA SB 954?
Blakespear is the primary sponsor of CA SB 954, joined by 16 cosponsors.
Description
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 defines various terms, including "natural and protected lands" for its purposes. This bill would revise the definition of that term to include habitats for protected species identified as candidate, sensitive, or species of special status by state or federal agencies. CEQA exempts from its requirement projects that consist exclusively of a day care center that is not located in a residential area and projects that consist exclusively of an advanced manufacturing facility located on a site zoned exclusively for industrial uses. This bill would additionally exempt projects consisting exclusively of a family day care home, as defined. The bill would, for the exemption for the day care center and family day care home, instead require the projects for those facilities not be located in an area zoned for industrial use or within 3,200 feet of a facility that actively extracts or refines oil or natural gas in order for the exemption to apply. The bill would revise the exemption for advanced manufacturing facility projects to require those projects to be used exclusively for final tier manufacturing, as defined. The bill would require an applicant of an advanced manufacturing project that is exempted from CEQA under the bill's requirement to enter into a bona fide community benefits agreement, as provided, and to comply with certain labor requirements, as provided. The bill would require the lead agency, before determining that an advanced manufacturing project is exempt from CEQA, to hold at least one public hearing on the project and to ensure that the applicant complies with the requirement to enter into a bona fide community benefits agreement and the labor requirements. CEQA exempts from its requirements a rezoning that implements the schedule of actions contained in an approved housing element. CEQA specifies that this exemption does not apply to a rezoning that would allow for the construction of certain facilities, including oil and gas infrastructure. CEQA also specifies that this exemption does not apply rezoning that would allow for construction to occur within the boundaries of any natural and protected lands, except as provided. This bill would repeal the exception from the CEQA exemption for rezoning that would allow for oil and gas infrastructure. The bill would specify that the definition of "natural and protected land" does not include habitats for protected species that would be added to that definition by this bill for purposes the exception for rezoning that would allow for construction to occur within the boundaries of any natural and protected lands to the CEQA exemption. CEQA specifies, for a proposed housing development project that would otherwise be exempt from its requirements but for a single condition required for the exemption to apply, that the application of CEQA is limited to the effects upon the environment that are caused by that single condition. CEQA provides that this limited application of CEQA does not apply if the proposed housing project is located on natural and protected land, but does not include "natural and protected land" that is a site within a very high fire hazard severity zone or within the state responsibility area, except as provided. This bill would additionally specify that "natural and protected land" does not include habitats for protected species that would be added to that definition by this bill. Because the bill would impose additional duties on a lead agency, 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.
- Introduced
- 2026-02-02
- Latest action
- 2026-09-18 — In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Blakespearauthor
- Connollyprincipal coauthor
- Allencoauthor
- Arreguíncoauthor
- Cortesecoauthor
- Lairdcoauthor
- McGuirecoauthor
- Pérezcoauthor
- Reyescoauthor
- Addiscoauthor
- Calozacoauthor
- Leecoauthor
- Pellerincoauthor
- Schultzcoauthor
- Wardcoauthor
- Kalracoauthor
- Ahrenscoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-09-18
In Senate. Consideration of Governor's veto pending.
2026-09-18
Vetoed by the Governor.
executive-veto
2026-09-04
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
executive-receipt
2026-08-28
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 28. Noes 10.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-08-27
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2026-08-26
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-26
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 50. Noes 17. Page 6623.) Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-21
Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended.
2026-08-21
Read third time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-21
Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-21
Assembly Rule 69(b)(1) suspended. (Ayes 55. Noes 17. Page 6296.)
2026-08-17
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-13
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-08-13
Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
2026-08-13
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 4.) (August 13).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-08-05
August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
2026-06-25
Coauthors revised.
2026-06-25
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (June 24). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-06-23
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. (Ayes 9. Noes 4.) (June 22). Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-06-15
Assembly Rule 56 suspended.
2026-06-08
Referred to Coms. on NAT. RES. and L. & E.
referral-committee
2026-05-26
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
reading-1
2026-05-26
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 23. Noes 10. Page 4447.) Ordered to the Assembly.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-05-18
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-05-14
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2026-05-14
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 4259.) (May 14).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-05-08
Set for hearing May 14.
2026-05-04
May 4 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2026-04-24
Set for hearing May 4.
2026-04-22
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1. Page 4012.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-04-16
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-04-15
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on L., P.E. & R. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 3899.) (April 15).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-04-15
Set for hearing April 22 in L., P.E. & R. pending receipt.
2026-04-09
Set for hearing April 15.
2026-04-08
Re-referred to Coms. on E.Q. and L., P.E. & R.
referral-committee
2026-03-25
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2026-02-11
Referred to Com. on RLS.
referral-committee
2026-02-03
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 5.
2026-02-02
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
introduction,reading-1,referral-committee
Versions
- 02/02/26 - Introduced — 2026-02-02Compare
- 03/25/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-03-25Compare
- 04/16/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-04-16Compare
- 05/14/26 - Amended Senate — 2026-05-14Compare
- 08/13/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-08-13Compare
- 08/21/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-08-21Compare
- 08/31/26 - Enrolled — 2026-08-31Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
- SB954Compare
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Votes
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ]
2026-04-15 · pass · 5-2
Member-level votes (7)
- Menjivar: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Valladares: no
- Dahle: no
- Hurtado: yes
- Allen: yes
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-04-22 · pass · 4-1
Member-level votes (5)
- Cortese: yes
- Laird: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Strickland: no
Placed on suspense file
2026-05-04 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Dahle: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Grayson: yes
Do pass as amended
2026-05-14 · pass · 5-2
Member-level votes (7)
- Wahab: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Dahle: no
- Seyarto: no
3rd Reading SB954 Blakespear et al.
2026-05-27 · pass · 23-9
Member-level votes (40)
- Hurtado: yes
- Limón: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Reyes: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Stern: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Weber Pierson: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Laird: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Allen: yes
- Ochoa Bogh: no
- Valladares: no
- Strickland: no
- Choi: no
- Wiener: no
- Alvarado-Gil: no
- Grove: no
- Seyarto: no
- Jones: no
- Grayson: other
- Niello: other
- Gonzalez: other
- Cabaldon: other
- Dahle: other
- McNerney: other
- Becker: other
- Caballero: other
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor and Employment]
2026-06-22 · pass · 9-4
Member-level votes (14)
- Haney: yes
- Connolly: yes
- Bryan: yes
- Garcia: yes
- Pellerin: yes
- Schultz: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Muratsuchi: yes
- Zbur: yes
- Hoover: no
- Ellis: no
- Macedo: no
- Alanis: no
- Wicks: other
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-06-24 · pass · 5-1
Member-level votes (7)
- Ward: yes
- Elhawary: yes
- Ortega: yes
- Lee: yes
- Kalra: yes
- Alanis: no
- Chen: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
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Attribution
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