Environmentalism

A Major Reform of California's Environmental Regulations Looks Destined for Failure

While votes are still being counted, a majority of voters appear to have said no to a major overhaul of the California Environmental Quality Act.

Christian Britschgi | 11.6.2026 5:10 PM

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Official results have yet to be called, but California's Proposition 45, which would have dramatically scaled back environmental review requirements for everything from new energy infrastructure to new highways, is looking set for defeat.

With an estimated 65 percent of the vote counted, Proposition 45 is trailing with 45.1 percent of votes in favor and 54.9 percent of votes opposed.

That's a massive and growing gulf that the measure does not seem likely to overcome.

Should Proposition 45 go down, it will be a major setback for the movement to make California a state that builds.

The target of the measure's reforms is the California Environmental Quality Act, which requires government agencies to study the environmental impacts of public projects they undertake directly as well as private projects they have some discretionary control over.

In practice, that means everything from a new publicly sponsored highway to a privately built suburban subdivision must be studied for its effects on noise, air quality, traffic, archaeological resources, and more.

Additionally, the law empowers........

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