Lake and streambed alteration agreements: exemptions: culverts and bridges.

The document changed from a formal enrolled bill format (with page numbers, chapter heading, and governor approval block) to a web page layout that includes site navigation, a digest key (Vote: MAJORITY, Appropriation: NO, Fiscal Committee: YES, Local Program: NO), and a bill history timeline. No statutory text was altered.

The window of eligible damage is now explicitly bounded to events between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2024, inclusive. Previously the bill only required damage 'in, or after, 2022' with no end date, meaning future damage could also qualify.

A new exclusion was added stating the exemption does not apply to the state highway system or at locations of intersection or connection to the state highway system. This removes state highways from the scope of projects eligible for the streamlined process.

The bill summary now describes the exemption as applying 'subject to certain requirements,' reflecting the added conditions including the new state highway exclusion and the bounded damage date window.

The sunset date for the bridge and culvert repair exemption was shortened from January 1, 2029 to January 1, 2027, reducing the window by two years.

The covered damage period was narrowed from 'in, or after, 2021' to 'in, or after, 2022,' excluding projects damaged in 2021 from the exemption.

A specific project identified as EPIMS Notification No. SUT-53568-R2, executed on January 31, 2025, is explicitly excluded from being an eligible project under this chapter.

A new requirement was added obligating the entity undertaking a covered project to conduct a biological survey to identify species present, consult with the department on appropriate species protection measures, and implement those recommended measures.

The sunset date for the Sutter County bridge and culvert repair exemption was moved up from January 1, 2029 to January 1, 2027, shortening the period by two years.

Removed the word 'emergency' from the description of qualifying projects. The exemption now applies to any project to repair or reconstruct a bridge 30 feet or less or a culvert 70 feet or less in Sutter County, not just those classified as emergency work.

Eliminated the requirement that the repair or reconstruction be undertaken within one year of the damage event. Projects can now qualify regardless of how long after the damage they begin.

The state-mandated local program designation was changed from 'yes' to 'no,' meaning the bill no longer imposes a state-mandated local program that would trigger potential reimbursement obligations under the California Constitution.

Removed an empty placeholder Section 21080.62 and duplicate section numbering that had created confusion in the prior version's structure.

The bill's subject classification was changed from 'environmental quality, natural resources' to 'natural resources, fish and wildlife,' reflecting a more precise description of the bill's focus on fish and wildlife streambed protections rather than general environmental quality.

All CEQA exemptions were removed. The bill no longer adds Public Resources Code Sections 21080.63 (culvert exemption) or 21080.64 (bridge span of 200 feet or less exemption). The bill title was changed from 'relating to natural resources. fish and wildlife' to just 'relating to fish and wildlife.'

The bridge and culvert emergency repair exemption in Fish and Game Code Section 1610(a)(4) is now limited to projects within the County of Sutter, rather than applying statewide.

A new Section 2 adds legislative findings declaring a special statute is necessary for Sutter County because its bridges and culverts are in rural areas and vital to evacuation routes, presenting a unique risk that needs urgent remedy.

A sunset clause was added: the new Sutter County-specific exemption (subdivision (a)(4)) remains in effect only until January 1, 2029, and is inoperative thereafter.

The damage timing requirement changed from 'within one year of the damage' to damage occurring 'in, or after, 2021.' The word 'destroyed' was added alongside 'damaged,' broadening what qualifies.

The state-mandated local program designation changed from 'yes' to 'no,' and the reimbursement provision (former Section 4) was removed, consistent with dropping the CEQA exemption that had required local agency determinations.

New amendment to Fish and Game Code Section 1610 exempts emergency projects to maintain, repair, restore, or reconstruct a bridge 30 feet long or less or reconstruct a culvert 70 feet long or less, damaged by fire, flood, storm, earthquake, land subsidence, gradual earth movement, or landslide, within one year of the damage. This extends the bill beyond CEQA into lake and streambed alteration regulations.

The bill's title and scope expanded from covering only CEQA exemptions for culverts and bridges to also covering lake and streambed alteration agreement exemptions under the Fish and Game Code.

Entities performing emergency work under the new Fish and Game Code exemption must notify the Department of Fish and Wildlife in writing within 14 days of beginning the work. Work that does not meet the emergency criteria is a violation if proper prior notification was not given.

A new Section 21080.63 was inserted into the Public Resources Code, pushing the bridge span exemption (previously Section 21080.63) to a new Section 21080.64.