CA AB295

Expands the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Environmental Leadership Act of 2021 to include water storage projects, water conveyance projects, and groundwater recharge projects that provide public benefits and drought preparedness as eligible "environmental leadership development projects"

Exempts these water infrastructure projects from the $100 million minimum investment requirement that applies to other leadership projects seeking Governor certification for CEQA streamlining

Allows the Governor to certify qualifying water projects for streamlined CEQA judicial review, which includes expedited court proceedings and concurrent preparation of the administrative record

Requires lead agencies to prepare the record of proceedings for certified water projects, creating a state-mandated local program

Provides that no state reimbursement to local agencies is required because they can levy fees or assessments to cover the costs of complying with the mandate