California has enacted sweeping revisions to CEQA under AB 130 and SB 131. These reforms expand streamlining pathways, introduce new exemptions, and change how CEQA litigation will unfold, while preserving CEQA’s core substantive requirements. This guide explains what changed, who it affects, and what attorneys should do now to prepare.
What’s Covered in the Guide
Why reform returned
Facing mounting housing, infrastructure, clean-energy, and water needs, the Legislature enacted AB 130 and SB 131 to accelerate critical projects while preserving environmental safeguards.
What didn’t change
CEQA’s foundational requirements remain intact. Environmental review is still required where exemptions do not apply, exemptions remain subject to challenge, and agencies must build a defensible administrative record.
What did change
The reforms expand exemptions for defined project types, impose more predictable review timelines, and modernize the administrative record process—requiring earlier digitization and stricter litigation deadlines.
Why the administrative record matters more than ever
SB 131 front-loads record preparation, limiting post-approval fixes and making early documentation critical for both agencies and project proponents.
What to expect next
Early CEQA litigation in 2026–2027 will test exemption eligibility, judicial deference, and record sufficiency, while a potential 2026 ballot initiative could further reshape standing and litigation standards.
How to prepare
The guide will prepare you with practical steps to take now, including reviewing the new statutes, updating CEQA procedures, auditing project eligibility, and planning for early-stage litigation risk.
