What AB 839 does
An act to amend Sections 21189.81, 21189.82, and 21189.83 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report (EIR) on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.
CEQA authorizes the Governor to certify projects meeting certain requirements as infrastructure projects and provide those certified projects with certain streamlining benefits, including requiring the lead agency to prepare the record of proceedings concurrently with the environmental review process and requiring the resolution of an action or proceeding challenging the certification of an EIR for certified projects or the granting of any project approvals, to the extent feasible, within 270 days of the filing of the record of proceedings with the court, as specified. Existing law requires the lead agency, within 10 days of the certification of an infrastructure project, to provide a public notice of the certification, as provided. If a lead agency fails to approve a project certified as an infrastructure project before January 1, 2033, existing law specifies that the certification is no longer valid.
This bill would authorize the Governor to certify up to 3 sustainable aviation fuel projects, as defined, meeting certain requirements, as infrastructure projects, thereby providing the above streamlining benefits to those projects. By expanding the duties of a lead agency as they relate to infrastructure projects and to sustainable aviation fuel projects, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the amended senate text, May 26, 2026. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Blanca Rubio introduced AB 839 on February 19, 2025, with coauthors Assembly Member Pacheco. The text was amended 4 times, 2 in the Assembly and 2 in the Senate, and heard in 8 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Assembly Floor, May 23, 2025: 71 ayes, 0 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Natural Resources, April 21, 2025: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary], 14-0.
- Assembly Judiciary, April 29, 2025: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 11-0.
- Assembly Appropriations, May 14, 2025: Do pass., 15-0.
- Senate Environmental Quality, June 17, 2026: Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary], 5-1.
- Senate Judiciary, June 30, 2026: Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 13-0.
- Senate Appropriations, August 3, 2026: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
Who supports and opposes AB 839
The Senate Judiciary analysis dated June 26, 2026 lists 14 organizations in support and 18 in opposition. When Assembly Natural Resources first listed positions on April 18, 2025, the count was 10 in support and 6 opposed. By the Senate Judiciary analysis of June 26, 2026 it was 14 to 18.
In support: Aerospace and Defense Alliance of California; Association of California Airports; Bay Area Council; Boeing Company; California Airports Council; California Manufacturers and Technology Association; Green Hydrogen Coalition; Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce; and 6 more.
Opposed: 350 Bay Area Action; Active San Gabriel Valley; Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN); BiofuelWatch; California Communities Against Toxics; California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) Action; California Environmental Voters; Californians Against Waste; and 10 more.
Read the Senate Judiciary analysis.
What happens next
It is in Senate Appropriations. The last recorded action was on August 13, 2026.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for aerospace organizations
This is the stage where language still changes. Amendments taken in committee are the ones that reach the Governor, so an organization with a stake in the drafting has a reason to be in that conversation now rather than after the vote.
The aerospace group at Capitol Axis handles that for aerospace clients.
Questions about AB 839
What does AB 839 do?
This bill would authorize the Governor to certify up to 3 sustainable aviation fuel projects, as defined, meeting certain requirements, as infrastructure projects, thereby providing the above streamlining benefits to those projects. By expanding the duties of a lead agency as they relate to infrastructure projects and to sustainable aviation fuel projects, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Has AB 839 passed the California Legislature?
It is in Senate Appropriations. The last recorded action was on August 13, 2026.
Who supports and opposes AB 839?
The Senate Judiciary analysis dated June 26, 2026 lists 14 organizations in support and 18 in opposition. Supporters include Aerospace and Defense Alliance of California; Association of California Airports; Bay Area Council. Opponents include 350 Bay Area Action; Active San Gabriel Valley; Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN).
What happens next with AB 839?
It still has committee and floor votes ahead of it. Amendments taken now are the ones that reach the Governor, so this is the stage where language changes are still possible.