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Bills

AB 1553: California Environmental Quality Act: notice: direct mailing: electronic mail.

  • Session Year: 2025-2026
  • House: Assembly
  • Latest Version Date: 2026-03-16

Current Status:

In Progress

(2026-03-17: Re-referred to Com. on NAT. RES.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

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 requires a lead agency that is preparing an environmental impact report, a negative declaration, or making other determinations, to provide public notice of that fact within a reasonable period of time, as provided. CEQA requires a lead agency to give notice to the last known name and address of all organizations and individuals who have previously requested notice, and to give notice by posting the notice on the internet website of the lead agency, and to give notice through one of 3 different procedures, including direct mailing to the owners and occupants of contiguous property shown on the latest equalized assessment roll. Existing law also requires, for a project involving the burning of municipal wastes, hazardous waste, or refuse-derived fuel, to give notice by direct mailing to the owners and occupants of property within 1/4 of a mile of any parcel or parcels, as specified.

This bill would authorize a lead agency to satisfy the direct mailing requirements listed above by electronic mail if the recipient affirmatively requested to receive notice by electronic mail.

Existing law exempts from CEQA, except when located on natural and protected lands, as defined, a project that consists exclusively of a daycare center, as specified, a project that consists exclusively of a federally qualified health center or a rural health clinic, as specified, a project that consists exclusively of a nonprofit food bank or food pantry, as specified, and a project that consists exclusively of a facility for advanced manufacturing, as specified.This bill would state that it is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would, among other things, provide that projects exempted from CEQA pursuant to the above-described provisions remain subject to, and in compliance with, all applicable state laws intended to protect public health, safety, and the environment.

News Coverage:

AB 1553: California Environmental Quality Act: notice: direct mailing: electronic mail. | Digital Democracy