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<ns0:Id>20250AB__217098AMD</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-18</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-03-19</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:MeasureNum>2170</ns0:MeasureNum>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Boerner</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Boerner</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 21080.1 of, and to add Section 21083.04 to, the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>environmental quality</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>California Environmental Quality Act: overburdened communities: documents and information: translations.</ns0:Subject>
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<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>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. Existing law requires a lead agency to be responsible for determining whether the project is exempt from
CEQA and whether an environmental impact report, negative declaration, or mitigated negative declaration is required, as provided. Existing law, for certain projects, establishes a ministerial review process with modified environmental assessment procedures, as provided. </html:p>
<html:p>This bill, notwithstanding the above-described provisions relating to determinations by a lead agency, would require an environmental impact report, negative declaration, or mitigated negative declaration for the development, operation, substantial modification, or substantial expansion of a project on land that is zoned to allow industrial uses and is in or within 1 / 2 mile of an overburdened community, as defined. The bill would disqualify these projects from receiving a statutory exemption or ministerial review process. Because a lead agency would be required to determine the applicability of this requirement, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require, on and after July 1, 2027, specified categories of documents and information prepared pursuant to the requirements of CEQA to be translated into all threshold languages, as defined, in the city or county where the project is located to ensure meaningful involvement of all impacted people. Because this bill would impose additional requirements on a lead agency, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the Office and Land Use and Climate Innovation, by July 1, 2027, to develop guidelines for this requirement, and would require the guidelines to allow lead agencies to develop a procedure for an interested party to request that interpretation services be made available, as specified. The bill would authorize the lead agency, if it develops that procedure, to require mandatory interpretation services only when a request has been made in advance of the hearing or meeting.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require the lead agency to, among other things, provide a notice of any public hearing subject to the above-described requirements to owners and occupants of property located within 1 / 2 half mile of any parcel or parcels, and to any school located within one mile of any parcel or parcels, of a project site, not less than 60 days before the public hearing. The bill would require this public hearing to include oral translation services in all threshold languages spoken in the city or county, as provided. Because this bill would impose additional requirements on a lead agency, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would prohibit a minor inaccuracy in the translation of a document from being a basis for invalidation of a public agency decision, unless the inaccuracy is found to preclude informed decisionmaking or informed public participation, as provided, and would require the guidelines adopted by the office to align with this
prohibition.</html:p>
<html:p>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.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
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<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
<ns0:LocalProgram>YES</ns0:LocalProgram>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Section 21080.1 of the
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is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>21080.1.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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(1)
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The lead agency shall be responsible for determining whether the project is exempt from this division and whether an environmental impact report, a negative declaration, or a mitigated negative declaration shall be required for any project that is subject to this division. That determination shall be final and conclusive on all persons, including responsible agencies, unless challenged as provided in Section 21167.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
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Notwithstanding paragraph (1), an environmental impact report, a negative declaration, or a
mitigated negative declaration shall be required for the development, operation, substantial modification to, or substantial expansion of, a project on land that is zoned to allow industrial uses and is in or within one-half mile of an overburdened community.
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<html:p>
(B)
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Notwithstanding any other law, the projects described in subparagraph (A) do not qualify for a statutory exemption under this division and are not eligible for a ministerial review process.
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<html:p>
(C)
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This paragraph does not alter the requirements or standards set forth in Sections 65098, 65098.1, 65098.1.5, 65098.2, 65098.2.5, 65098.2.7, 65098.3, 65098.4, 65098.5, 65098.6, 65098.7, 65098.8, or 65098.9 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(i)
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For purposes of this paragraph, “overburdened community” means a disadvantaged community identified pursuant to
Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code, a disadvantaged unincorporated community as defined in Section 65302.10 of the Government Code, or a census tract that has a pollution burden score that is within the highest 15 percent of CalEnviroScreen pollution burden scores.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For purposes of this paragraph “CalEnviroScreen” means the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool that is used to identify disadvantaged communities pursuant to Section 39711 of the Health and Safety Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
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If a proposed housing development project would otherwise be exempt from this division pursuant to a statutory exemption, or categorical exemption pursuant to Class 1 to 5, inclusive, 12, 15, 20, 27, 30, or 32 that is adopted before January 1, 2026, but for a single condition detailed in the statutory exemption or in Section
15300.2, 15301, 15302, 15303, 15304, 15305, 15312, 15315, 15320, 15322, 15327, 15330, or 15332 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, as applicable, the application of this division to the approval of the proposed housing development project shall be limited to effects upon the environment that are caused solely by that single condition.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An initial study or environmental impact report prepared for a housing development project subject to this subdivision is only required to examine those effects that the lead agency determines, based upon substantial evidence in the record, are caused solely by the single condition that makes the proposed housing development project ineligible for the statutory exemption or categorical exemption.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An environmental impact report for a housing development project subject to this subdivision is not required to include any
discussion of alternatives to the housing development project or the growth-inducing impacts of the housing development project.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This subdivision does not apply to any of the following housing development projects:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A proposed housing development project that is not similar in kind to the projects listed in the statutory or categorical exemption.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A proposed housing development project that is ineligible for the statutory exemption or categorical exemption due to two or more conditions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A proposed housing development project that includes a distribution center or oil and gas infrastructure.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A proposed housing development project located on
natural and protected lands, as defined pursuant to Section 21067.5.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ii)
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The definition of “natural and protected lands” described in clause (i) does not include the lands described in subdivision (o) of Section 21067.5.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(E)
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The project site or the parcel size exceeds four acres, and either of the following occurred:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The project is a builder’s remedy project, as defined in paragraph (11) of subdivision (h) of Section 65589.5 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The project applicant applied pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (d) of Section 65589.5 of the Government Code as it read before January 1, 2025.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions apply:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Condition” means a physical or regulatory feature of the project or its setting or an effect upon the environment caused by the project.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Housing development project” has the same meaning as defined in Section 65589.5 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In the case of a project described in subdivision (c) of Section 21065, the lead agency shall, upon the request of a potential applicant, provide for consultation before the filing of the application regarding the range of actions, potential alternatives, mitigation measures, and any potential and significant effects on the environment of the project.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Section 21083.04 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Public Resources Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>21083.04.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For purposes of this section, “threshold languages” means all languages spoken jointly by 5 percent or more of the population within the jurisdiction of the lead agency who do not speak English, or who are unable to effectively communicate in English because it is not their native language, consistent with the Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act (Chapter 17.5 (commencing with Section 7290) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
On and after July 1, 2027, all of the following categories of documents and information prepared pursuant to this division shall be translated into all threshold languages in the city or county where the project is located to ensure meaningful involvement of all impacted people:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Executive summaries of environmental review documents.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Initial studies.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Mitigation and monitoring requirements.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Cumulative impacts analysis.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notices of public hearings or informational meetings regarding a proposed project, including, but not limited to, scoping meetings.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notices of exemption.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(7)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notices of preparation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(8)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notices of availability.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(9)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notices of completion.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(10)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notices of determination.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(11)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Statements of overriding considerations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
On or before July 1, 2027, the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation shall develop guidelines to implement the requirement in subdivision (b). The guidelines shall include guidance for the availability of timely requested translation equipment or services at any public hearing or meeting for which a notice is required to be translated.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The guidelines developed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall allow lead agencies to develop a procedure for an interested party to request that interpretation services be made available at hearings or meetings and, if the lead agency develops that procedure, the lead agency may require mandatory interpretation
services only when a request has been made in advance of the hearing or meeting.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The lead agency shall provide a notice of any public hearing subject to this section to owners and occupants of property located within one-half mile of any parcel or parcels, and to any school located within one mile of any parcel or parcels, of a project site, not less than 60 days before the public hearing.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A notice provided under this subdivision shall include translations for all threshold languages spoken in the city or county.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A notice provided under this subdivision shall provide the date, time, and location of the public hearing, a description of the proposed project, a map indicating the location of the facility, how to submit a written comment, and any other information deemed appropriate by the lead agency.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The lead agency shall make best efforts to secure a location for the public hearing within one-half mile of a public transit stop.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If the public hearing is held on a weekday, the lead agency shall hold the public hearing between the hours of 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., inclusive.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The public hearing shall have in-person participation and provide a remote participation option through either a web-based platform or by telephone.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The public hearing shall include oral translation services in all threshold languages spoken in the city or county, upon request.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A minor inaccuracy in the translation of a document shall not be a basis for
invalidation of a public agency decision, unless the inaccuracy is found to preclude informed decisionmaking or informed public participation, consistent with subdivision (a) of Section 21005, and the guidelines adopted pursuant to this section shall align with this prohibition.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
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No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.
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