AB-854
Energy & Environment

California Environmental Quality Act: exemptions.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Exempts electrical transmission maintenance and upgrade projects from environmental review requirements.
  • Requires projects to occur within existing rights-of-way and restore the area after completion.
  • Mandates lead agencies to file exemption notices with state and county offices.
  • Supports California's goal to achieve 100% clean energy retail sales by 2045.

Summary

Assembly Member Petrie-Norris's proposal to exempt certain electrical transmission projects from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements aims to accelerate grid infrastructure upgrades while maintaining environmental safeguards. The exemption would apply to projects involving inspection, maintenance, repair, restoration, reconditioning, reconductoring with advanced conductors, replacement, or removal of transmission wires and directly attached equipment.

To qualify for the exemption, projects must occur within existing rights-of-way and include legally binding agreements to restore sites to their original condition after completion. For projects on private property, owners must explicitly grant access permission. Lead agencies determining a project's exemption status must file notices with both the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and county clerks in affected jurisdictions.

The bill's findings note California's renewable energy targets, including requirements for 60% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2045. According to these findings, reconductoring - replacing existing transmission wires with higher-capacity alternatives - allows increased power transmission using current infrastructure. Local agencies retain authority to levy fees and charges to cover costs associated with implementing the new requirements, with no state reimbursement mandated for program administration.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Read first time. To print.
Assembly Floor
Read first time. To print.
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Phillip ChenR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tasha Boerner HorvathD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 18 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Phillip ChenR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tasha Boerner HorvathD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Joe PattersonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane PapanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Pilar SchiavoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Rick ZburD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Greg WallisR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
John HarabedianD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Chris RogersD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Nick SchultzD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
David TangipaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Cottie Petrie-Norris
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/19/2025)

Key Takeaways

  • Exempts electrical transmission maintenance and upgrade projects from environmental review requirements.
  • Requires projects to occur within existing rights-of-way and restore the area after completion.
  • Mandates lead agencies to file exemption notices with state and county offices.
  • Supports California's goal to achieve 100% clean energy retail sales by 2045.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Cottie Petrie-Norris
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Petrie-Norris's proposal to exempt certain electrical transmission projects from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements aims to accelerate grid infrastructure upgrades while maintaining environmental safeguards. The exemption would apply to projects involving inspection, maintenance, repair, restoration, reconditioning, reconductoring with advanced conductors, replacement, or removal of transmission wires and directly attached equipment.

To qualify for the exemption, projects must occur within existing rights-of-way and include legally binding agreements to restore sites to their original condition after completion. For projects on private property, owners must explicitly grant access permission. Lead agencies determining a project's exemption status must file notices with both the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and county clerks in affected jurisdictions.

The bill's findings note California's renewable energy targets, including requirements for 60% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2045. According to these findings, reconductoring - replacing existing transmission wires with higher-capacity alternatives - allows increased power transmission using current infrastructure. Local agencies retain authority to levy fees and charges to cover costs associated with implementing the new requirements, with no state reimbursement mandated for program administration.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/19/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Read first time. To print.
Assembly Floor
Read first time. To print.
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Phillip ChenR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tasha Boerner HorvathD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 18 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 4
Select All Legislators
Profile
Jacqui IrwinD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Ash KalraD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Phillip ChenR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tasha Boerner HorvathD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Cottie Petrie-NorrisD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Lisa CalderonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Gregg HartD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Joe PattersonR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Diane PapanD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Pilar SchiavoD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tri TaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Rick ZburD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Greg WallisR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mark GonzalezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
John HarabedianD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Chris RogersD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Nick SchultzD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
David TangipaR
Assemblymember
Committee Member