Current Issues

Prop 45

The Ridgecrest Chamber is proud to support Prop 45

California's cost of living is out of control because our outdated system for approving essential projects is too slow, too bureaucratic, and too costly, making it harder to build the housing, clean drinking water and water supply projects, clean energy, roads, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure our communities depend on. These unnecessary delays drive up costs for families, businesses, and taxpayers while making California less affordable for everyone.

That's why the Ridgecrest Chamber proudly supports Prop 45, the Building an Affordable California Act on the November 2026 ballot.

Prop 45 creates clear, enforceable timelines for environmental review, agency permitting, and judicial review for eligible projects. Rather than allowing projects to become trapped in years of bureaucratic delay and costly litigation, Prop 45 establishes accountability from application through final court decisions. By creating certainty throughout the approval process, the measure is expected to accelerate essential projects by 2 to 10 or more years, reducing costs and delivering benefits to Californians sooner.

Just as importantly, Prop 45 does not eliminate environmental review or weaken environmental protections. Every eligible project must still comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and all applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. The measure simply ensures that environmental review, permitting decisions, and any legal challenges are completed within reasonable, enforceable deadlines instead of dragging on indefinitely.

For too long, unnecessary delays have increased the cost of nearly everything Californians rely on. Permitting delays alone add more than $75,000 to the cost of a new home, while years of delay inflate the cost of roads, schools, hospitals, water systems, clean energy projects, and other essential infrastructure. Prop 45 cuts unnecessary red tape, lowers project costs, and helps deliver the infrastructure Californians need faster.

For the Ridgecrest Chamber, Prop 45 means California can more quickly deliver clean energy generation, transmission and storage, and transportation improvements that strengthen our communities and economy.

Prop 45 only applies to eight types of projects: essential housing projects, essential clean energy projects, essential water projects, essential public health projects, essential public safety projects, essential broadband Internet access projects, essential education facility projects, and essential transportation projects. Data centers do not appear on the list.

Prop 45 also preserves local control. Cities and counties retain their authority to approve or deny projects, and Californians continue to have meaningful opportunities to participate throughout the project approval process. The measure creates a process that is faster, fairer, and more predictable, not one that sacrifices accountability or environmental protections.

More than 145 organizations representing affordable housing, healthcare, water providers, agricultural producers, clean energy leaders, social justice advocates, and small business leaders support Prop 45 because California cannot afford to keep delaying the essential projects that improve quality of life and make our state more affordable.

California deserves a permitting system that protects the environment and delivers the infrastructure families, workers, businesses, and communities need.

Learn more about Prop 45 at: www.YesOnProp45.com