California voters have rejected Proposition 45, which would have amended the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to expedite environmental reviews for certain housing, transportation, water, health and infrastructure projects. As proposed, Prop 45 would have imposed a one-year limit on environmental reviews for qualifying projects and required courts to rule within 270 days on related CEQA lawsuits.
Brooke Miller, a Land Use partner at Sheppard, said: “CEQA delays essential projects across California, including housing, clean energy and wildfire risk reduction projects, and CEQA reform is needed for the continued prosperity of the Golden State. Unfortunately, special interests engaged in a campaign to mislead the electorate about the effects of Prop. 45, and their campaign of deception proved effective.”
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