Environmental Impact Assessment Review Limited to 365 Business Days; California Proposition 45 Vote

California voters are deciding on Proposition 45, a ballot initiative that would impose time limits on environmental reviews and related litigation for qualifying projects, with data centers' eligibility remaining subject to interpretation. Under the measure, projects requiring an Environmental Impact Report must complete review within 365 business days after a completed application, excluding weekends and state holidays, and would apply to projects involving housing, water resources, clean energy, public health, public safety, broadband internet, education facilities, and transportation. The initiative does not exempt projects from environmental review entirely; applicants could choose between existing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) procedures and the new streamlined process. The outcome could affect development timelines for infrastructure and data center projects in the state, where review delays and CEQA litigation are common sources of cost and schedule risk. Watch for final vote counts and any post-election legal challenges over which project types, particularly data centers, qualify under the measure.