No on the CalChamber Ballot Initiative
No on the CalChamber Ballot Initiative
CalChamber Seeks to Remove Environmental and Public Health Safeguards
The California Chamber of Commerce is circulating a ballot initiative, called “Modifies Environmental Review for Certain Projects,” that would fundamentally undermine environmental review for large, consequential projects across the state. Those include:
Waste & Carbon Projects
Including landfill gas facilities, waste-to-energy, gasification, and other polluting projects.
Highway Infrastructure
Which can increase harmful vehicle emissions, particularly near low-income neighborhoods.
Dams & Water Pipelines
Which can harm ecosystems, fragment habitat, and threaten public health.
High-Risk Sprawl
Including new, large-scale subdivisions in wildfire zones, flood zones, and seismic areas.
Californians Say:
No to Public Endangerment
The initiative strips away public health and environmental protections with limited disclosure of environmental impacts and public engagement.
No to Polluter Giveaways
The initiative forces the public to absorb the long-term costs of air and water pollution, public health impacts, and climate risks.
No to Industry-Backed Rollbacks
The measure is funded by industry interests that want to weaken environmental review and safeguards.
No to Attacks on Public Process
The initiative restricts the public’s ability to review harmful projects, reduces oversight, and limits the enforcement of community protections.
Printed In-House by the Planning and Conservation League
Opposition to Initiative 25-0023A1
How Does the Initiative Leverage Profits Over People?
Dampens Community Input
Restricts Public Review:
Imposes strict time limits on public comment periods, which can only be extended by court order—restricting community participation.- Narrows Tribal Consultation:
Excludes non-federally-recognized tribes from tribal consultation.
Erodes Public Health Protections
Weakens Environmental Review:
Allows developers to select and “lock in” environmental standards for their projects, which may not be based on up-to-date scientific or medical information.- Limits Alternatives Analyses:
Allows an agency to review only a single less harmful project alternative, and eliminates the consideration of alternative sites, removing a key mechanism for reducing pollution exposure.
Shields Polluters from Accountability
Limits Evidence Available to Courts:
Removes critical evidence from the “administrative record,” which is used by courts to evaluate environmental violations.- Constrains Relief Courts Can Order:
Restricts ability of courts to order injunctions, even if a project threatens public health or the environment.
Shifts Costs From Developers to Taxpayers
Limits Evidence Available to Courts:
Removes critical evidence from the “administrative record,” which is used by courts to evaluate environmental violations.- Constrains Relief Courts Can Order:
Restricts ability of courts to order injunctions, even if a project threatens public health or the environment.
Myths and Facts:
MYTH: Environmental Laws Delay Critical Projects
FACT: Most Solar, Wind, Transmission, and Urban Housing Projects Are Already Streamlined
• Housing: At least 36 laws have been passed since 2002 to exempt or limit environmental review for housing. AB 130 (2025) exempted nearly all urban housing projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Clean Energy: Solar, wind, transmission, and other clean energy projects are already eligible for expedited environmental review timelines under AB 205 (2022).
MYTH: Environmental Laws Delay Critical Projects
FACT: Most Solar, Wind, Transmission, and Urban Housing Projects Are Already Streamlined
• Housing: At least 36 laws have been passed since 2002 to exempt or limit environmental review for housing. AB 130 (2025) exempted nearly all urban housing projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
• Clean Energy: Solar, wind, transmission, and other clean energy projects are already eligible for expedited environmental review timelines under AB 205 (2022).
Protect Your Health | Hold Polluters Accountable | Keep Your Air and Water Clean
Say No to the CalChamber Initiative
The Housing Workshop, CEQA by the Numbers: Myths & Facts, May 2023.
The Housing Workshop, CEQA for the Future, December 2025.
Learn more and get involved:
StopTheInitiative@pcl.org | www.pcl.org/StopTheInitiative
Printed In-House by the Planning and Conservation League
Opposition to Initiative 25-0023A1