Election & Politics Law

Read Environmental Law updates, alerts, news, and legal analysis from leading lawyers and law firms:

News & Analysis as of May 18, 2013

CEQA Reform Update

by Douglas Aikins | Hopkins & Carley on 4/2/2013

This year has seen more momentum for CEQA reform than in many previous years. California’s economy has placed a spotlight on the burdens that environmental regulations and litigation, particularly CEQA litigation, impose on...more

Supreme Court Will Review CEQA Decision From Fifth District In Wal-Mart Citizen Initiative Case

by Arthur F. Coon | Miller Starr Regalia on 2/18/2013

After receiving three separate petitions for review, including petitions from real parties Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the City of Sonora, the California Supreme Court voted unanimously on February 13, 2013 to grant review of...more

Town of Seneca Fall files petition against zoning board

by Steven Getman on 12/21/2012

SENECA FALLS — Attorney Steven Getman has served an order to show cause on the town of Seneca Falls Zoning Board of Appeals. The Seneca Falls Town Board objects to the ZBA’s decision to grant a use variance to the owner of...more

CEQA Reform – Legislature Balks In 2012: What is the Starting Point for Working Group Discussions and 2013 Legislation?

by Carollyn Lobell, Christopher Walker | Nossaman LLP on 8/24/2012

In recognition of the complexity and political rancor surrounding CEQA reform, Governor Jerry Brown quipped this week that CEQA reform was "the Lord's work." Concurrent with his comments, major CEQA reforms were being...more

Florida HB503: Excitement Grows Over This New Law as a Good Thing for Florida Real Estate Development

by Rosa Eckstein Schechter on 4/2/2012

While everyone waits for Florida Governor Rick Scott to sign HB503 into law, and it's expected that Scott will do so - no veto here - Florida real estate developers and those who work with land development are becoming more...more

Governor’s Veto Said CEQA Is Enough, No Need For Law Requiring “Economic Impact Report” For Superstores

by Miller Starr Regalia on 11/25/2011

Like the Sherlock Holmes story featuring the “dog that didn’t bark,” sometimes proposed legislation that doesn’t pass can nonetheless provide fundamental insights. A case in point: Senate Bill 469 (Vargas), the Small &...more

Governor Vetoes Economic Impact Report Requirement for Superstores

by Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP on 10/11/2011

One of this year’s most controversial bills was vetoed by Governor Brown in the final minutes of October 9, 2011, his last day to act on the bill. SB 469 (Vargas), the Small & Neighborhood Business Protection Act, would have...more