IMMEDIATE CALL TO ACTION:
TELL LEGISLATORS TO VOTE NO ON SB 607

A last-minute backroom deal is underway to gut CEQA—the California Environmental Quality Act—our state’s premiere environmental law. SB 607, driven by the Governor and San Francisco Senator Scott Weiner (District 11), would eliminate most Environmental Impact Reports and silence the public's voice in critical decisions. No Orange Heights, Hills For Everyone and other land preservation organizations have relied on CEQA to protect special status wildlife species, improve projects and reduce impacts.  It gives you, as a member of the public, the right to speak up when decisions are made in your community and it provides the necessary information a decision maker needs to be informed about a project's impacts.

This bill is being pushed through the budget process, instead of the policy process. This bypasses public hearings and democratic input. Final language is expected Friday, so we must act now.

Your voice matters. Please make five urgent calls or emails TODAY, June 25 (or by June 26 at the latest):

1. Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire – (916) 651-4002 or Email him at senator.mcguire@senate.ca.gov. 
   Thank him for defending CEQA and urge him to block SB 607 from the budget process.
2. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas – (916) 319-2029 or assemblymember.rrivas@assembly.ca.gov. 
   Tell him major policy changes don’t belong in a budget trailer bill. Stop SB 607.
3. Governor Gavin Newsom – (916) 445-2841 or use the Contact Form (Topic: Budget May Revise 2025-26, Position: Con, add the detailed script below.)
   Urge him to reject this undemocratic maneuver and respect the public’s right to participate.
4. Alert your local representatives (State Assemblymember & Senator). Find your legislators
   Urge them to reject this undemocratic maneuver and respect the public’s right to participate.

SAMPLE SCRIPT

I am calling to express strong opposition to SB 607 (Wiener). As we understand it, this bill has been turned into budget trailer language that could be approved as soon as this Friday. This must not happen, as more time is desperately needed for the public to learn more about, and to weigh in on this piece of harmful legislation.

SB 607 would fundamentally erode the California Environmental Quality Act, during a time of unprecedented rollback of environmental protections at a federal level. CEQA has protected Californians’ public health and the environment for more than 50 years; it must not be cavalierly eviscerated in the darkness of a hasty budget process. We urge you to oppose this dangerous legislation, and to at least allow more time to shed daylight on the bill and allow the public to comment.

FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR

Find your California Legislator (Assembly and Senate) and make your call immediately.

This urgent message is from Claire Schlotterbeck, Executive Director of Hills For Everyone, one of our valued partner organizations in our land preservation effort.