Understanding Proposition 45: Perspectives, Implications, and Practical Effects

California voters will decide Proposition 45, the Building an Affordable California Act, on November 3, 2026. Prop 45 would establish a new environmental review, permitting, and judicial review process for projects it defines as “essential.”

Eligible project applicants could elect to use this new process, and once invoked, its requirements and timelines would apply to the reviewing agencies. Among other changes, the measure would establish more binding timelines for environmental review, permitting, and court challenges; limit public-comment periods; narrow tribal consultation requirements; allow an applicant to develop a single project alternative for review; and limit the scope of judicial review and remedies in CEQA cases.

This episode is the recording of AEP’s webinar Understanding Proposition 45: Perspectives, Implications, and Practical Effects, moderated by Jessa Spainhower. Matt Klopfenstein of Summit Advocacy opens with an overview of what the measure does. Brent Efron of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center then presents the case for Yes on 45, and Matthew McKerley of Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger presents the case for No.

Next, a roundtable of CEQA practitioners discusses what Prop 45 could mean in practice. The panel includes Rich Walter of ICF, Theresa Carroll of AES, and AEP President Mindy Fogg of the City of Carpinteria. They cover shot clocks and agency capacity, how the opt-in provision works, data centers, tribal consultation, and how the measure interacts with recent CEQA housing reforms. The episode ends with audience Q&A.

Speaker presentations and more resources on Prop 45 are available at https://www.califaep.org/prop_45.php

Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers’ own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the California Association of Environmental Professionals.