California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery.
- Exempts the Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery project from environmental review requirements until 2030.
- Establishes Orange County's first veterans cemetery on 200 acres of public land.
- Requires the cemetery project to maintain lower environmental impact than previously approved plans.
- Takes immediate effect to expedite construction of the veterans cemetery.
Assembly Member Quirk-Silva's legislation exempts the planned Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery in Orange County from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements through 2030, aiming to expedite construction of a facility serving the state's largest county without a veterans cemetery. The exemption applies only if the cemetery constitutes a less intensive land use than analyzed in a 2005 environmental impact report and its impacts were evaluated in a 2024 addendum to that report.
The bill responds to formal resolutions from Orange County and all 34 of its cities supporting the cemetery's development at Gypsum Canyon, where the county has deeded 200 acres to the Orange County Cemetery District. According to the bill's findings, Orange County houses over 90,000 veterans and multiple military bases, yet lacks a dedicated veterans cemetery despite multiple legislative measures since 2014 aimed at establishing one. The Veterans Alliance of Orange County, representing various veterans organizations, has endorsed the project.
The legislation includes an urgency clause for immediate effect upon passage, citing the pressing need to provide burial grounds for county veterans. While local agencies must determine whether activities qualify for the CEQA exemption, the bill specifies that no state reimbursement is required, as agencies maintain authority to levy fees covering associated costs. The Orange County Board of Supervisors, Cemetery District, and Department of Veterans Affairs continue collaborating on development and operational planning for the facility.
 Shannon GroveR Senator | Bill Author |  Not Contacted | |
 Sharon Quirk-SilvaD Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
 Steven ChoiR Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
 Phillip ChenR Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
 Cottie Petrie-NorrisD Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted |
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 | PASS |
- Exempts the Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery project from environmental review requirements until 2030.
- Establishes Orange County's first veterans cemetery on 200 acres of public land.
- Requires the cemetery project to maintain lower environmental impact than previously approved plans.
- Takes immediate effect to expedite construction of the veterans cemetery.
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Assembly Member Quirk-Silva's legislation exempts the planned Gypsum Canyon Veterans Cemetery in Orange County from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements through 2030, aiming to expedite construction of a facility serving the state's largest county without a veterans cemetery. The exemption applies only if the cemetery constitutes a less intensive land use than analyzed in a 2005 environmental impact report and its impacts were evaluated in a 2024 addendum to that report.
The bill responds to formal resolutions from Orange County and all 34 of its cities supporting the cemetery's development at Gypsum Canyon, where the county has deeded 200 acres to the Orange County Cemetery District. According to the bill's findings, Orange County houses over 90,000 veterans and multiple military bases, yet lacks a dedicated veterans cemetery despite multiple legislative measures since 2014 aimed at establishing one. The Veterans Alliance of Orange County, representing various veterans organizations, has endorsed the project.
The legislation includes an urgency clause for immediate effect upon passage, citing the pressing need to provide burial grounds for county veterans. While local agencies must determine whether activities qualify for the CEQA exemption, the bill specifies that no state reimbursement is required, as agencies maintain authority to levy fees covering associated costs. The Orange County Board of Supervisors, Cemetery District, and Department of Veterans Affairs continue collaborating on development and operational planning for the facility.
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 0 | 2 | 8 | PASS |
Shannon GroveR Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Sharon Quirk-SilvaD Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Steven ChoiR Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Phillip ChenR Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted |