CA AB3297

Modifies the "prejudicial abuse of discretion" standard for CEQA challenges to housing development projects by requiring courts to find abuse occurred only if noncompliance likely affected the agency's approval decision and significantly affected public ability to evaluate project impacts.

Requires housing development CEQA challenges to only raise grounds for noncompliance that were presented during the public comment period for the specific version of the environmental impact report in which those grounds first appeared.

Establishes that judicial review of superior court judgments in housing development CEQA cases must proceed by petition for peremptory writ of mandate filed within 60 days, rather than standard appeals under Code of Civil Procedure Section 904.

Limits court of appeal issuance of alternative writs or orders to show cause only for grounds where the party seeking review has at least a 50% chance of prevailing.