In the wake of the recent wildfires that devastated the Pacific Palisades and surrounding communities, the urgent need for legal reform has become more apparent than ever. In his first week in office, President Trump visited Los Angeles to meet with fire victims and assess the situation on the ground. During his visit, I had the opportunity to speak with him about the critical role that legal reforms must play in safeguarding Californians from further tragedy.
Special interest groups have frequently exploited legal loopholes to push agendas that do not align with the best interests of our communities. Their actions have repeatedly hindered crucial efforts such as fuels reduction projects—an essential measure for preventing the rapid spread of wildfires. I discussed with President Trump the growing issue of lawsuit abuse, especially in areas near my hometown, where legal challenges have prevented timely and effective forest management.
The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, was originally established to ensure that public agencies carefully consider the environmental impacts of their actions and proposed projects. While its intent was noble—to protect our environment by enforcing a thorough review process — its application has increasingly become a barrier rather than a safeguard.
Over time, CEQA has been manipulated by special interest groups to block projects necessary for community safety and economic progress. Its lengthy approval process allows lawsuits to delay or often halt essential activities such as fuels reduction, forest management, and infrastructure improvements. These delays not only increase the risk of uncontrolled wildfires but also impose significant financial burdens on local governments and businesses.
Critics argue that in its current form, CEQA has morphed from a tool of environmental protection into an instrument of obstruction that stifles progress and impedes our ability to respond quickly to emergencies.
Last fall, the Line fire erupted in the San Bernardino mountains. Firefighters managed to finally stop it a month and a half later in an area where proactive fuels reduction measures and a well-implemented forest management plan had been implemented. However, if the fire had approached from a different direction, the results would likely have been much different, as a CEQA lawsuit brought by an environmental group had prevented fuels reduction from being accomplished.
Firefighting personnel estimate that several entire communities would have been destroyed had that occurred. This stark contrast underscores the unintended consequences of the current legal framework and highlights the urgent need for reform—not only of CEQA itself but also of the broader legal process that allows such obstructionism.
Beyond the immediate threat of wildfires, the misuse of CEQA has significant economic impacts. Californians suffer a hidden “tort tax” which costs each resident of our state an average of $2,458 each year as reported by Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.
Last year alone, abusive civil lawsuits drained $61 billion from our state’s economy and led to a loss of 829,000 jobs. Local governments have also suffered a revenue shortfall of $1.4 billion annually due to these abuses. As businesses and communities struggle under the weight of these legal burdens, the resulting higher costs for goods and services and diminished job opportunities further erode our quality of life.
Our court system also requires reform. We must protect against the barrage of frivolous lawsuits that clog court dockets and slow down essential public projects. It is critical that these cases move through the courts faster so that necessary measures—like effective forest management and emergency response—are not delayed. Simply put, our judicial process must be streamlined to ensure that when urgent action is needed, the legal system does not become an obstacle.
Comprehensive legal reform—spanning both CEQA and the judicial system—is essential to protect our communities, boost economic growth, and prevent further environmental deterioration. By curbing lawsuit abuse, streamlining the approval process for critical projects, and ensuring that our courts handle cases more efficiently, we can better prepare California to face the challenges of wildfires and other natural disasters.
Now is the time to implement meaningful change that prioritizes the safety and prosperity of Californians, our small businesses, and our environment.
Our future depends on reforms that reduce bureaucratic red tape, safeguard public safety, and foster a more efficient legal process in America.
Jay Obernolte represents California’s 23rd congressional district.