California Environmental Quality Act: electrical distribution: exemptions.

Legislative status

1. Introduced
2. In Committee
3. Reported by Committee
4. Floor Vote Scheduled
5. Passed One Chamber
6. Passed Both Chambers
7. Sent to Executive
8. Signed into Law

Summary

The bill adds new rules that let utilities skip the full environmental impact study for specific transmission line work, such as repairs or upgrades, when the work stays inside existing rights‑of‑way and meets other limits. It applies to projects that support California’s 100 % clean‑energy goals and affects state agencies that normally conduct CEQA reviews, as well as private landowners where the work crosses private land. The changes are meant to speed up clean‑energy projects while still protecting sensitive lands.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

Vote

From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0. Page 3973.) (April 21). · Apr 22, 2026

Hearings

• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 14, 2026
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 11, 2026
• Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Hearing
  Energy, Utilities and Communications · Apr 21, 2026
• Energy, Utilities and Communications
  Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee · Apr 21, 2026
• Environmental Quality Committee Hearing
  Environmental Quality · Apr 15, 2026

History

1. May 14, 2026May 14 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
2. May 12, 2026Set for hearing May 14.
3. May 11, 2026May 11 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
4. May 4, 2026Set for hearing May 11.
5. Apr 23, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
6. Apr 22, 2026From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 0. Page 3973.) (April 21).
7. Apr 16, 2026Set for hearing April 21.
8. Apr 15, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E., U & C. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 3900.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.
9. Apr 9, 2026Set for hearing April 15.
10. Apr 8, 2026Re-referred to Coms. on E.Q. and E., U & C.
11. Mar 25, 2026From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
12. Feb 26, 2026Referred to Com. on RLS.

The 12 most recent of 14 recorded actions.

Sponsors

• Wiener · sponsor
• Becker

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

Similar bills in other states

Loading the map of where bills like this one were filed.

Topics

Share