Lawmakers Approve CEQA Reform
A bill introduced at the request of Tuolumne County is headed to Governor Jerry Brown’s desk.
AB 890 would create a statutory exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for road safety projects if it is for an existing roadway, does not cross a waterway, and does not increase the capacity of the road.
The legislation was introduced by Republican Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, at the request of the Tuolumne County Supervisors, and she claims that it will save cities and counties hundreds of thousands of dollars. It would help municipalities avoid delays when pursuing minor safety improvements, such as adding guardrails on steep rural roads.
The bill gained bipartisan support, easily passing in the Assembly 65-0. Governor Brown has not indicated whether he will sign the bill.
