Amended IN Assembly April 10, 2025 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. An act to amend Section 75212 of the Public Resources Code, relating to sustainable communities.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 314, as amended, Arambula. California Environmental Quality Act: major transit stop. Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program: project eligibility.Existing law requires the Strategic Growth Council to develop and administer the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development, and that support other related and coordinated public policy objectives. Existing law specifies the types of projects eligible for funding under the program, including, among others, transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects, as provided.This bill would expressly include certain transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects near planned high-speed rail stations as eligible for funding under the program.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 12 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: YESNO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 75212 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:75212. Projects eligible for funding pursuant to the program include any of the following:(a) Intermodal, affordable rental or owner-occupied housing projects that support infill and compact development.(b) Transit capital projects and programs supporting transit ridership, including water-borne transit.(c) Active transportation capital projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities and supportive infrastructure, including connectivity to transit stations.(d) Noninfrastructure-related active transportation projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including activities that encourage active transportation goals conducted in conjunction with infrastructure improvement projects.(e) Transit-oriented development projects, including affordable rental or owner-occupied housing and infrastructure at or near transit stations or connecting those developments to transit stations.(f) Capital projects that implement local complete streets programs.(g) Other projects or programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other criteria air pollutants by reducing automobile trips and vehicle miles traveled within a community.(h) Acquisition of easements or other approaches or tools that protect agricultural lands that are under pressure of being converted to nonagricultural uses, particularly those adjacent to areas most at risk of urban or suburban sprawl or those of special environmental significance.(i) Planning to support implementation of a sustainable communities strategy, including implementation of local plans supporting greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts and promoting infill and compact development.(j) (1) Transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects aimed at building infrastructure, increasing pedestrian access, or similar purposes near planned high-speed rail stations for which environmental documentation precisely identifying the locations of the high-speed rail stations have been posted on the High-Speed Rail Authoritys internet website.(2) Projects described in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to reduce greenhouse gas emission due to proximity to high-speed rail service, irrespective of when the high-speed rail station is operational.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 XIII B 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.
Amended IN Assembly April 10, 2025 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. An act to amend Section 75212 of the Public Resources Code, relating to sustainable communities.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 314, as amended, Arambula. California Environmental Quality Act: major transit stop. Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program: project eligibility.Existing law requires the Strategic Growth Council to develop and administer the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development, and that support other related and coordinated public policy objectives. Existing law specifies the types of projects eligible for funding under the program, including, among others, transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects, as provided.This bill would expressly include certain transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects near planned high-speed rail stations as eligible for funding under the program.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 12 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: YESNO
Amended IN Assembly April 10, 2025
Amended IN Assembly April 10, 2025
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. An act to amend Section 75212 of the Public Resources Code, relating to sustainable communities.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 314, as amended, Arambula. California Environmental Quality Act: major transit stop. Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program: project eligibility.
Existing law requires the Strategic Growth Council to develop and administer the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development, and that support other related and coordinated public policy objectives. Existing law specifies the types of projects eligible for funding under the program, including, among others, transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects, as provided.This bill would expressly include certain transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects near planned high-speed rail stations as eligible for funding under the program.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 12 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.
Existing law requires the Strategic Growth Council to develop and administer the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through projects that implement land use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support infill and compact development, and that support other related and coordinated public policy objectives. Existing law specifies the types of projects eligible for funding under the program, including, among others, transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects, as provided.
This bill would expressly include certain transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects near planned high-speed rail stations as eligible for funding under the program.
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 12 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 75212 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:75212. Projects eligible for funding pursuant to the program include any of the following:(a) Intermodal, affordable rental or owner-occupied housing projects that support infill and compact development.(b) Transit capital projects and programs supporting transit ridership, including water-borne transit.(c) Active transportation capital projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities and supportive infrastructure, including connectivity to transit stations.(d) Noninfrastructure-related active transportation projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including activities that encourage active transportation goals conducted in conjunction with infrastructure improvement projects.(e) Transit-oriented development projects, including affordable rental or owner-occupied housing and infrastructure at or near transit stations or connecting those developments to transit stations.(f) Capital projects that implement local complete streets programs.(g) Other projects or programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other criteria air pollutants by reducing automobile trips and vehicle miles traveled within a community.(h) Acquisition of easements or other approaches or tools that protect agricultural lands that are under pressure of being converted to nonagricultural uses, particularly those adjacent to areas most at risk of urban or suburban sprawl or those of special environmental significance.(i) Planning to support implementation of a sustainable communities strategy, including implementation of local plans supporting greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts and promoting infill and compact development.(j) (1) Transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects aimed at building infrastructure, increasing pedestrian access, or similar purposes near planned high-speed rail stations for which environmental documentation precisely identifying the locations of the high-speed rail stations have been posted on the High-Speed Rail Authoritys internet website.(2) Projects described in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to reduce greenhouse gas emission due to proximity to high-speed rail service, irrespective of when the high-speed rail station is operational.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 XIII B 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 75212 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:75212. Projects eligible for funding pursuant to the program include any of the following:(a) Intermodal, affordable rental or owner-occupied housing projects that support infill and compact development.(b) Transit capital projects and programs supporting transit ridership, including water-borne transit.(c) Active transportation capital projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities and supportive infrastructure, including connectivity to transit stations.(d) Noninfrastructure-related active transportation projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including activities that encourage active transportation goals conducted in conjunction with infrastructure improvement projects.(e) Transit-oriented development projects, including affordable rental or owner-occupied housing and infrastructure at or near transit stations or connecting those developments to transit stations.(f) Capital projects that implement local complete streets programs.(g) Other projects or programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other criteria air pollutants by reducing automobile trips and vehicle miles traveled within a community.(h) Acquisition of easements or other approaches or tools that protect agricultural lands that are under pressure of being converted to nonagricultural uses, particularly those adjacent to areas most at risk of urban or suburban sprawl or those of special environmental significance.(i) Planning to support implementation of a sustainable communities strategy, including implementation of local plans supporting greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts and promoting infill and compact development.(j) (1) Transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects aimed at building infrastructure, increasing pedestrian access, or similar purposes near planned high-speed rail stations for which environmental documentation precisely identifying the locations of the high-speed rail stations have been posted on the High-Speed Rail Authoritys internet website.(2) Projects described in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to reduce greenhouse gas emission due to proximity to high-speed rail service, irrespective of when the high-speed rail station is operational.
SECTION 1. Section 75212 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.
75212. Projects eligible for funding pursuant to the program include any of the following:(a) Intermodal, affordable rental or owner-occupied housing projects that support infill and compact development.(b) Transit capital projects and programs supporting transit ridership, including water-borne transit.(c) Active transportation capital projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities and supportive infrastructure, including connectivity to transit stations.(d) Noninfrastructure-related active transportation projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including activities that encourage active transportation goals conducted in conjunction with infrastructure improvement projects.(e) Transit-oriented development projects, including affordable rental or owner-occupied housing and infrastructure at or near transit stations or connecting those developments to transit stations.(f) Capital projects that implement local complete streets programs.(g) Other projects or programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other criteria air pollutants by reducing automobile trips and vehicle miles traveled within a community.(h) Acquisition of easements or other approaches or tools that protect agricultural lands that are under pressure of being converted to nonagricultural uses, particularly those adjacent to areas most at risk of urban or suburban sprawl or those of special environmental significance.(i) Planning to support implementation of a sustainable communities strategy, including implementation of local plans supporting greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts and promoting infill and compact development.(j) (1) Transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects aimed at building infrastructure, increasing pedestrian access, or similar purposes near planned high-speed rail stations for which environmental documentation precisely identifying the locations of the high-speed rail stations have been posted on the High-Speed Rail Authoritys internet website.(2) Projects described in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to reduce greenhouse gas emission due to proximity to high-speed rail service, irrespective of when the high-speed rail station is operational.
75212. Projects eligible for funding pursuant to the program include any of the following:(a) Intermodal, affordable rental or owner-occupied housing projects that support infill and compact development.(b) Transit capital projects and programs supporting transit ridership, including water-borne transit.(c) Active transportation capital projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities and supportive infrastructure, including connectivity to transit stations.(d) Noninfrastructure-related active transportation projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including activities that encourage active transportation goals conducted in conjunction with infrastructure improvement projects.(e) Transit-oriented development projects, including affordable rental or owner-occupied housing and infrastructure at or near transit stations or connecting those developments to transit stations.(f) Capital projects that implement local complete streets programs.(g) Other projects or programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other criteria air pollutants by reducing automobile trips and vehicle miles traveled within a community.(h) Acquisition of easements or other approaches or tools that protect agricultural lands that are under pressure of being converted to nonagricultural uses, particularly those adjacent to areas most at risk of urban or suburban sprawl or those of special environmental significance.(i) Planning to support implementation of a sustainable communities strategy, including implementation of local plans supporting greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts and promoting infill and compact development.(j) (1) Transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects aimed at building infrastructure, increasing pedestrian access, or similar purposes near planned high-speed rail stations for which environmental documentation precisely identifying the locations of the high-speed rail stations have been posted on the High-Speed Rail Authoritys internet website.(2) Projects described in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to reduce greenhouse gas emission due to proximity to high-speed rail service, irrespective of when the high-speed rail station is operational.
75212. Projects eligible for funding pursuant to the program include any of the following:(a) Intermodal, affordable rental or owner-occupied housing projects that support infill and compact development.(b) Transit capital projects and programs supporting transit ridership, including water-borne transit.(c) Active transportation capital projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities and supportive infrastructure, including connectivity to transit stations.(d) Noninfrastructure-related active transportation projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including activities that encourage active transportation goals conducted in conjunction with infrastructure improvement projects.(e) Transit-oriented development projects, including affordable rental or owner-occupied housing and infrastructure at or near transit stations or connecting those developments to transit stations.(f) Capital projects that implement local complete streets programs.(g) Other projects or programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other criteria air pollutants by reducing automobile trips and vehicle miles traveled within a community.(h) Acquisition of easements or other approaches or tools that protect agricultural lands that are under pressure of being converted to nonagricultural uses, particularly those adjacent to areas most at risk of urban or suburban sprawl or those of special environmental significance.(i) Planning to support implementation of a sustainable communities strategy, including implementation of local plans supporting greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts and promoting infill and compact development.(j) (1) Transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects aimed at building infrastructure, increasing pedestrian access, or similar purposes near planned high-speed rail stations for which environmental documentation precisely identifying the locations of the high-speed rail stations have been posted on the High-Speed Rail Authoritys internet website.(2) Projects described in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to reduce greenhouse gas emission due to proximity to high-speed rail service, irrespective of when the high-speed rail station is operational.
75212. Projects eligible for funding pursuant to the program include any of the following:
(a) Intermodal, affordable rental or owner-occupied housing projects that support infill and compact development.
(b) Transit capital projects and programs supporting transit ridership, including water-borne transit.
(c) Active transportation capital projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including pedestrian and bicycle facilities and supportive infrastructure, including connectivity to transit stations.
(d) Noninfrastructure-related active transportation projects that qualify under the Active Transportation Program, including activities that encourage active transportation goals conducted in conjunction with infrastructure improvement projects.
(e) Transit-oriented development projects, including affordable rental or owner-occupied housing and infrastructure at or near transit stations or connecting those developments to transit stations.
(f) Capital projects that implement local complete streets programs.
(g) Other projects or programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other criteria air pollutants by reducing automobile trips and vehicle miles traveled within a community.
(h) Acquisition of easements or other approaches or tools that protect agricultural lands that are under pressure of being converted to nonagricultural uses, particularly those adjacent to areas most at risk of urban or suburban sprawl or those of special environmental significance.
(i) Planning to support implementation of a sustainable communities strategy, including implementation of local plans supporting greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts and promoting infill and compact development.
(j) (1) Transit capital projects, active transportation capital projects, and transit-oriented development projects aimed at building infrastructure, increasing pedestrian access, or similar purposes near planned high-speed rail stations for which environmental documentation precisely identifying the locations of the high-speed rail stations have been posted on the High-Speed Rail Authoritys internet website.
(2) Projects described in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to reduce greenhouse gas emission due to proximity to high-speed rail service, irrespective of when the high-speed rail station is operational.
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.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B 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.