Legal Planet (Berkeley/UCLA)

What Does the Building an Affordable California Act Do?

The California Chamber of Commerce is gathering signatures for an initiative that would overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for so‑called “essential” projects. The proposal imposes court‑enforceable timelines, lets proponents define project scope and a single alternative, and narrows significance to violations of pre‑existing written standards. It also vests development rights at the date an application is filed, shielding projects from later regulatory changes. If qualified, the measure will face voters this fall or be negotiated with the legislature.