CEQA

A debate is under way in California over the future of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the state's foundational environmental review law. Critics of recent reform efforts argue changes pose an existential threat to environmental protections, while supporters contend the law simply needs updating so housing, transit and clean energy projects can be built faster without years of litigation delays.

California voters are weighing Proposition 45, a ballot measure that critics say would weaken the California Environmental Quality Act, a landmark law protecting the environment, while supporters argue it is needed to cut delays and costs that block new housing. The debate has split housing advocates, who see CEQA as a barrier to building, against environmental groups who want to preserve its protections, leaving the measure's true impact contested ahead of the vote.