Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1457 into law, setting a June 30, 2031 deadline for local governments with disadvantaged communities in their planning areas to adopt environmental justice elements in their general plans, according to the California Attorney General's Office.
The law, authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), amends Senate Bill 1000 (2016). It requires adoption of environmental justice provisions and expands transparency and public engagement requirements, including opportunities for public input on draft policies.
Senate Bill 1000 previously required such adoption only when a local government updated two or more general plan elements concurrently. That trigger proved ineffective over the past decade, with many local governments still failing to act. The new deadline is intended to ensure the requirement is fully realized across the state.
Attorney General Rob Bonta, a sponsor of the legislation, said "a firm deadline means local governments cannot put this planning off, because every Californian should have the opportunity to live in a community that is healthy and safe."