California 2019-2020 Regular Session Status: In Committee

SB 659 — California Environmental Quality Act: attorney's fees: infill housing.

Last action — Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed Assembly
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

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 impact on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that impact. CEQA establishes procedures by which certain parties may file an action or proceeding challenging the lead agency's action on the ground of noncompliance with CEQA. Existing law authorizes the court, upon the motion of a party, to award attorney's fees to a prevailing party in an action that has resulted in the enforcement of an important right affecting the public interest if 3 conditions are met. This bill would, in an action or proceeding related to a project involving the development of housing at an infill site brought pursuant to CEQA, authorize the court, upon motion of a party, to award reasonable attorney's fees to a party if the court makes certain findings. The bill would require the Judicial Council to adopt a rule of court to implement this provision.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. May 16 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

  3. Set for hearing May 16.

  4. May 13 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  5. Set for hearing May 13.

  6. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Joint Rule 10.5.

  7. Read second time and amended. Ordered to third reading.

  8. From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 4. Page 907.) (April 30).

  9. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.

  10. Set for hearing April 30 in JUD. pending receipt.

  11. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 5. Noes 1. Page 844.) (April 24).

  12. Set for hearing April 24.

  13. Re-referred to Coms. on EQ. and JUD.

  14. From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  15. Referred to Com. on RLS.

  16. Read first time.

  17. From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 27.

  18. Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Sponsors

  • Borgeas · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 2 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Borgeas

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Placed on suspense file

Passed 6 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 1000
Unaffiliated 5000
Total 6000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (6)
Member Party Vote
Wieckowski — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Bates — Yea
Hill — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

housing environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 659 do?
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 impact on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that impact. CEQA establishes procedures by which certain parties may file an action or proceeding challenging the lead agency's action on the ground of noncompliance with CEQA. Existing law authorizes the court, upon the motion of a party, to award attorney's fees to a prevailing party in an action that has resulted in the enforcement of an important right affecting the public interest if 3 conditions are met. This bill would, in an action or proceeding related to a project involving the development of housing at an infill site brought pursuant to CEQA, authorize the court, upon motion of a party, to award reasonable attorney's fees to a party if the court makes certain findings. The bill would require the Judicial Council to adopt a rule of court to implement this provision.
Who sponsors SB 659?
SB 659 is sponsored by Borgeas.
What is the current status of SB 659?
This bill died with 2019-2020 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 659?
Track SB 659 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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