Build Now Act

Key Points

• This bill sets a strict one-year deadline for the government to finish environmental studies for certain water projects in California. These projects include things like storing water underground or fixing water systems for the Central Valley Project.
• If a government agency cannot finish its review in one year, it must either get the project owner to agree to more time or deny the permit. This is meant to stop projects from being stuck in limbo for years without a decision.
• If a permit is denied because the government ran out of time, the project owner can apply again right away. The government must then share all the information it already gathered to help make the next review go faster.
• The goal is to help California manage its water better by getting infrastructure built more quickly. Supporters believe this will help during droughts, while critics might worry that rushing reviews could lead to missing environmental risks.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.