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Bill seeks to restore CEQA vesting protections for projects permitted under recent community plans
Summary
Sponsor testified SB 611 would restore post-permit protections that expired Jan. 1, 2025, allowing projects permitted under an adopted community plan to proceed despite plan-related litigation; the committee heard sponsor testimony and moved the bill forward.
Sponsor representatives told the Assembly Local Government Committee that SB 611 would reinstate protections that let legally permitted projects continue when litigation challenges a community plan. Supporters said prior law (AB 1515 of 2019) provided that certainty but that the protections expired Jan. 1, 2025.
Nicole Curran, State Affairs manager for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, testified that the recent Hollywood community plan update — which Mayor’s office says includes proposals for 30,000 additional housing units — is under CEQA challenge and that SB 611 is intended to prevent litigation over the plan from halting all projects permitted under the plan. Curran said the bill would not remove environmental review for individual projects; it would prevent sweeping stoppages of projects tied to an adopted community plan.
A representative from the City and County of San Francisco stated the city supports the bill after amendments. No primary witnesses registered in opposition. The committee moved SB 611 forward to the Judiciary Committee.
