20250AB__262098AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-20 AMENDED_ASSEMBLY 2026-03-16 2025 AB AMD Introduced by Assembly Member Carrillo LEAD_AUTHOR ASSEMBLY Carrillo

An act to add

Section 21080.75 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. environmental quality California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: wireless telecommunications facility: broadband internet access projects. 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. This bill would exempt from CEQA projects for the installation of a wireless telecommunications facility, as defined, or a broadband internet access project, as defined, that is not a small wireless facility, as defined.

Because a lead agency would be required to determine whether a project would qualify for this exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. 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 establishes the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy in the Natural Resources Agency and prescribes the purposes, membership, and functions and duties of the conservancy.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.</xhtml:p>"?> MAJORITY NO YES YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Section 21080.75 is added to the Public Resources Code , to read: 21080.75. (

a) For purposes of this section, the following

definitions apply: (1) “Broadband internet access project” means a project to provide mass-market retail service by wire or radio provided to customers in California that provides the capability to transmit data to, and receive data from, all or substantially all internet endpoints, including, but not limited to, a capability that is incidental to, and enable the operation of, the communication service, but excluding dial-up internet access service. (2) “Small wireless facility” means a facility that meets the definition of small wireless facilities as defined in

Section 1.6002(

l) of Title of the Code of Federal Regulations, as may be modified or amended by the Federal Communications Commission. (3) “Wireless telecommunications facility” means equipment and network components, including, but not limited to, towers, utility poles, transmitters, base stations, and emergency power systems, that are used in the provision of wireless telecommunications services. (

b) This division does not apply to a project for the installation of a wireless telecommunications facility, or a broadband internet access project, that is not a small wireless facility.

SEC. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that

Section of this act adding

Section 21080.75 to the Public Resources Code addresses a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair as that term is used in

Section of

Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore,

Section of this act applies to all cities, including charter cities.

SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to

Section 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 of the Government Code. <caml:Num>SECTION 1.</caml:Num><caml:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" xlink:href="urn:caml:codes:PRC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'22.8.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'32602.'%5D)" xlink:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" xlink:type="locator">Section of the <caml:DocName>Public Resources Code</caml:DocName> is amended to read:</caml:ActionLine><caml:Fragment><caml:LawSection id="id_A9CAE486-0197-4030-B5C6-E5BE333B4532"><caml:Num>32602.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_8EADDAAD-A082-4AD5-9EA1-B3A9B1C3DA6C"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>There is in the Natural Resources Agency the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, which is created as a state agency for the following purposes:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>To acquire and manage public lands located within the lower Los Angeles River and San Gabriel River watersheds, the Dominguez Channel watershed, and Santa Catalina Island, and to provide for open-space, low-impact recreational and educational uses, water conservation, watershed improvement, wildlife and habitat restoration and protection, and watershed improvement within the territory.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>To preserve the San Gabriel River and the lower Los Angeles River, the Dominguez Channel watershed, and Santa Catalina Island in a manner that is consistent with existing and adopted river and flood control projects for the protection of life and property.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(c)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>To acquire open-space lands within the territory of the conservancy.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(d)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>To provide for the public’s enjoyment and enhancement of recreational and educational experiences on public lands in the San Gabriel Watershed and lower Los Angeles River, the San Gabriel Mountains, the Dominguez Channel watershed, and Santa Catalina Island in a manner that is consistent with the protection of lands and resources in those watersheds.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection></caml:Fragment></caml:BillSection>"?>