FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/22/2026
MEDIA CONTACT:
Taylor Thompson
Director of Development and Communications
California Environmental Justice Alliance Action (CEJA Action)
taylor@ceja.org | 619-520-6740
Sacramento, CA – On September 18, 2026, the California Office of the Governor provided this letter to the California Senate to explain the veto of Senate Bill 954, sponsored by Senator Blakespear. Senate Bill 954 (SB 954) was one of four bills that the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) selected as its priorities to support for the 2026 session.
To determine legislative priorities each year, CEJA utilizes a process that centers the grassroots community members represented by our alliance member organizations.
SB 954 was written to address the environmental and public health rollbacks enacted under Senate Bill 131 (2025) and take critical steps toward fulfilling commitments made last year by legislative leadership to scale back its most harmful provisions. SB 954 would address these impacts by restoring necessary protections for communities, workers, and the environment, and by establishing state oversight over the use of the “advanced manufacturing” CEQA exemption.
CEJA rejects the false narrative that Californians must choose between a strong economy and a clean environment. The state has developed the largest manufacturing sector in the country and the fourth-largest economy in the world, while upholding robust protections for workers and communities. Economic growth must support the well-being of all Californians without compromising the health of our workers and residents, or the quality of our air, water, and natural ecosystems.
However, in opposition to a supermajority of representatives in both the Senate and Assembly who voted in support of SB 954, Governor Newsom has declined to take a proactive approach. Instead, the advanced manufacturing exemptions in SB 131 will be allowed to harm our communities, with the vague hope that changes can be made in the future. CEJA shared an opinion piece on its website.
In her response to the Veto of SB 954, Senator Blakespear stated: “We should not have to wait for another emergency before recognizing that sweeping - and rushed- exemptions from environmental review need reasonable guardrails.”
Additional Quotes:
“SB954 strengthened environmental and health protections for frontline communities already overburdened with pollution and hazardous facilities. It’s disappointing that the Governor vetoed the bill and chose to protect industries over people, but we will continue to work with our environmental and legislative partners to address environmental harms and restore protections for our communities.”
- Deja McCauley, Physicians for Social Responsibility - Los Angeles
“While the Governor’s decision to veto SB 954 is a setback for environmental justice, we feel confident that the legislation, and the broad support that grew around it, has set in motion a shift toward better land use policy for vulnerable communities. With the legislature firmly behind a measure designed to protect homes and schools from industrial pollution, we are hopeful that the next Governor will rise to the challenge of truly ensuring that economic development does not mean dumping on nearby neighborhoods.”
- Phoebe Seaton, Co-Director and Attorney at Law, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability - Fresno
“We are grateful to Senator Blakespear for her leadership on SB 954. Although it was ultimately vetoed, we are confident that the conversations had during the legislative process have helped prepare us for generative conversations with the incoming administration during the 2027 session. Together, we can figure out a pathway forward that protects frontline communities.”
– Rabeya Sen, Equitable Land Use Director, California Environmental Justice Alliance - Los Angeles
