CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 314Introduced by Assembly Member ArambulaJanuary 23, 2025 An act to amend Section 21064.3 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 314, as introduced, Arambula. California Environmental Quality Act: major transit stop.The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.CEQA exempts from its requirements residential projects on infill sites and transit priority projects that meet certain requirements, including a requirement that the projects are located within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop. CEQA defines major transit stop to include, among other locations, the intersection of 2 or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.This bill would additionally define major transit stop to include a planned or existing high-speed rail station. Because the bill would require a lead agency to make an additional determination as to whether a location is a major transit stop for purposes of determining whether residential or mixed-use residential projects are exempt from CEQA, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 21064.3 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21064.3. Major transit stop means a site containing any of the following:(a) An existing rail or bus rapid transit station.(b) A ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service.(c) The intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 20 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.(d) A planned or existing high-speed rail station.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 314Introduced by Assembly Member ArambulaJanuary 23, 2025 An act to amend Section 21064.3 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 314, as introduced, Arambula. California Environmental Quality Act: major transit stop.The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.CEQA exempts from its requirements residential projects on infill sites and transit priority projects that meet certain requirements, including a requirement that the projects are located within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop. CEQA defines major transit stop to include, among other locations, the intersection of 2 or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.This bill would additionally define major transit stop to include a planned or existing high-speed rail station. Because the bill would require a lead agency to make an additional determination as to whether a location is a major transit stop for purposes of determining whether residential or mixed-use residential projects are exempt from CEQA, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 314
Introduced by Assembly Member ArambulaJanuary 23, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Arambula
January 23, 2025
An act to amend Section 21064.3 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 314, as introduced, Arambula. California Environmental Quality Act: major transit stop.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.CEQA exempts from its requirements residential projects on infill sites and transit priority projects that meet certain requirements, including a requirement that the projects are located within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop. CEQA defines major transit stop to include, among other locations, the intersection of 2 or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.This bill would additionally define major transit stop to include a planned or existing high-speed rail station. Because the bill would require a lead agency to make an additional determination as to whether a location is a major transit stop for purposes of determining whether residential or mixed-use residential projects are exempt from CEQA, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.
CEQA exempts from its requirements residential projects on infill sites and transit priority projects that meet certain requirements, including a requirement that the projects are located within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop. CEQA defines major transit stop to include, among other locations, the intersection of 2 or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.
This bill would additionally define major transit stop to include a planned or existing high-speed rail station. Because the bill would require a lead agency to make an additional determination as to whether a location is a major transit stop for purposes of determining whether residential or mixed-use residential projects are exempt from CEQA, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 21064.3 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21064.3. Major transit stop means a site containing any of the following:(a) An existing rail or bus rapid transit station.(b) A ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service.(c) The intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 20 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.(d) A planned or existing high-speed rail station.SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 21064.3 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:21064.3. Major transit stop means a site containing any of the following:(a) An existing rail or bus rapid transit station.(b) A ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service.(c) The intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 20 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.(d) A planned or existing high-speed rail station.
SECTION 1. Section 21064.3 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.
21064.3. Major transit stop means a site containing any of the following:(a) An existing rail or bus rapid transit station.(b) A ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service.(c) The intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 20 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.(d) A planned or existing high-speed rail station.
21064.3. Major transit stop means a site containing any of the following:(a) An existing rail or bus rapid transit station.(b) A ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service.(c) The intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 20 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.(d) A planned or existing high-speed rail station.
21064.3. Major transit stop means a site containing any of the following:(a) An existing rail or bus rapid transit station.(b) A ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service.(c) The intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 20 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.(d) A planned or existing high-speed rail station.
21064.3. Major transit stop means a site containing any of the following:
(a) An existing rail or bus rapid transit station.
(b) A ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service.
(c) The intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 20 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.
(d) A planned or existing high-speed rail station.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.
### SEC. 2.