CA SB861

Requires the Judicial Council to adopt court rules establishing a 270-day timeline to resolve judicial challenges to environmental impact report certifications and project approvals for five specified water projects, to the extent feasible.

Applies to five California Water Commission-approved projects: Chino Basin Conjunctive Use Environmental Water Storage/Exchange Program (San Bernardino), Harvest Water Program (Sacramento), Kern Fan Groundwater Storage Project (Kern), Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project (Contra Costa), and Willow Springs Water Bank Conjunctive Use Project (Kern).

Requires lead agencies to prepare records of proceedings concurrently with the administrative process and post all documents on an accessible website within five days of release or receipt.

Mandates draft and final environmental impact reports include a notice in 12-point type informing applicants that proceedings are subject to Section 21168.6.10 procedures, with a full text copy appended to the reports.

Declares no state reimbursement is required because local agencies have authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments to cover mandated program costs.