Proposition 45 on the Nov. 3 ballot would change the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to put deadlines on environmental review and lawsuits for many housing, transportation, water and health projects.

Why it matters here: Hayward, Oakland, San Francisco and other Bay Area cities and counties have adopted or are weighing data center moratoriums. Opponents argue Prop 45 could help data centers move faster, KALW reported. Supporters say data centers aren't covered.

What a vote means

  • Yes: Certain public and private projects become eligible for new review and court procedures, with tighter time limits on environmental review and less that courts can consider in challenges, according to the Secretary of State's official guide.
  • No: Projects keep using today's review and court procedures.
  • Cost: State and local governments would likely face initial costs in the high tens of millions of dollars a year, possibly over $100 million, partly covered by fees, the guide says.

The data center fight

The dispute is over the measure's category for "broadband internet access projects." Dan Dunmoyer of the California Building Industry Association, which supports Prop 45, told the Los Angeles Times, "We specifically excluded data centers." Legal experts are split. UC Berkeley Law's Ethan Elkind said data centers will argue they fit the definition and courts will decide.

UC Berkeley law professor Eric Biber told the Times that if data centers are covered, local governments couldn't change rules for a project once its application is in, though existing bans aren't expected to be affected.

Who's paying

Top Yes donors listed by the Secretary of State include Building a Better California, the California Building Industry Association, Edison International, CalChamber, PG&E ($1.7 million) and Sempra. Top No donors include Clean and Healthy California, Wendy Schmidt and several building trades and laborers' unions.

"Prop 45 would roll out the red carpet for them in California," No on 45 spokesperson Woody Little said of data centers, per KALW. Supporters say the measure cuts red tape to build housing, water, schools, hospitals and clean energy faster.

See every Bay Area race and measure in our Election 2026 guide.