In the last two weeks, Governor Brown has signed into law three pieces of legislation designed to streamline the CEQA process. Each is discussed below.

1. AB 900

2. SB 292

3. SB 226

Assemby Bill 900 (Buchanan (D-San Ramon) and Steinberg (D-Sacramento)) adds new Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 21178) to Division 13 of the Public Resources Code, which expedites judicial review of projects designated by the Governor and the Legislature as “environmental leadership development projects,” if they are legally challenged. To qualify as an environmental leadership development project, the project must be large ($100 million investment upon completion of construction) and fall into one of three categories ......