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 (EIR) 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.
The Permit Streamlining Act sets forth various procedures for the review and approval of development project applications. Among other things, the act requires a public agency that is the lead agency for a development project to approve or disapprove the project within a specified period of time, which varies depending on the project's phase in the CEQA process.
This bill would additionally require approval or disapproval of a housing development project within 30 days from the date of certification by the lead agency of the EIR, if the EIR is prepared pursuant to specified provisions of CEQA if certain other conditions are met. By imposing additional duties on local agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development, which is administered by the Director of Housing and Community Development. Among other things, existing law requires the department to review adopted housing elements or amendments, make a finding as to whether the adopted element or amendment is in substantial compliance with specified law, and report its findings to the planning agency.
This bill would require the director, in consultation with the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, to establish a working group, as specified, for purposes of exploring, considering, and recommending guidance to local jurisdictions on the most effective ways in which to expedite development of housing, as described.
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.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Statutes affected:
AB 1997: 65589.5 GOV, 65589.9 GOV, 65950 GOV
02/17/26 - Introduced: 65589.5 GOV, 65589.9 GOV, 65950 GOV
04/07/26 - Amended Assembly: 65589.5 GOV, 65589.9 GOV, 65950 GOV
04/16/26 - Amended Assembly: 65589.5 GOV, 65589.9 GOV, 65950 GOV
04/27/26 - Amended Assembly: 65950 GOV
AB1997: 65589.5 GOV, 65589.9 GOV, 65950 GOV