LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
California Legislature Shelves Bill Intended to Facilitate Farmland Conversions for Renewable Energy Development3
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Releases Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan5
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
District Court:
U.S. District Court Directs U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Complete Review of Petition for ESA Listing of White Sturgeon as “Threatened” within Nine Months7
San Francisco Baykeeper, et al. v. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, et al., ___F.Supp.4th___, Case No. 25-cv-01360-LJC (N.D. Cal. Sept. 3, 2025).
RECENT CALIFORNIA DECISIONS
California Supreme Court:
California Supreme Court Replaces Greyhound Deference for Public Utilities Commission’s Interpretation of Its Code with Less Deferential Yamaha
Standard10
Center for Biological Diversity v. Public Utilities Commission, ___Cal.5th___, Case No. S283614 (Aug. 7, 2025).
California Supreme Court Finds Earnings Stemming from Intangible Assets May Be Considered by County Assessor in Property Tax Valuation—Court Limits Applicability of Elk Hills Decision12
Olympic and Georgia Partners, LLC v. County of Los Angeles, ___Cal.5th___, Case No. S280000 (Aug. 28, 2025).
District Court of Appeal:
First District Court Upholds Marin County’s Agricultural Housing Restriction14
Benedetti v. County of Marin, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case No. A170403 (1st Dist. Aug. 29, 2025).
Second District Court Upholds Constitutionality of SB 9 as Applied to General Law Cities16
City of Rancho Palos Verdes v. State of California, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case No. B332315 (2nd Dist. Sept. 4, 2025).
First District Court Rejects City’s Rent Control Ordinance Exemption for Renovated Military Hous-
ing18
CP VI Admirals Cove, LLC v. City of Alameda, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case Nos. A170689, A170986 (1st Dist. Aug. 29, 2025).
First District Court Backs City and County’s Determination of Consistency in General Plan Dispute over Water Services Agreement20
Solano County Orderly Growth Committee v. City of Fairfield, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case No. A170680 (1st Dist. Aug. 28, 2025).
First District Court Limits Use of Pre-Proposition 218 Assessment Formulas21
Thacker v. City of Fairfield, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case No. A171354 (1st Dist. Aug. 28, 2025).
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE23
