State Bill Seeks to Fast-Track Midway Rising Project in San Diego Amid Environmental Review Concerns
A state bill, SB 344, is being fast-tracked to allow the Midway Rising project in San Diego to move forward by preventing lawsuits related to its environmental impact report. The bill, which has an urgency clause requiring a two-thirds vote,…
San Diego, CA, August 22, 2026 —
SAN DIEGO – A state bill, identified as SB 344, is progressing rapidly with the aim of expediting the Midway Rising project in San Diego. The legislation is designed to shield the project from potential lawsuits that could arise from challenges to its environmental impact report.
The bill includes an urgency clause, which necessitates a two-thirds vote for its passage. The stated intention of SB 344 is to safeguard both the Midway Rising project and the city of San Diego from legal battles concerning the thoroughness of the environmental review process. Notably, this legislative action is being considered even while the environmental impact report remains in draft form.
City officials are slated to review the Midway Rising project on October 9th. Following this review, there is a critical deadline for an exclusive negotiating period with Midway Rising, which is set for December 4th. The fast-tracking of SB 344 suggests an effort to preemptively address potential legal obstacles that could delay or derail the project before these key dates.
Details regarding specific concerns about the environmental impact report’s adequacy were not provided. The bill’s passage is contingent on securing the required two-thirds majority vote, reflecting the urgency attributed to moving the project forward.
Story summarized from the original created by Scott Lewis and Will Huntsberry on voiceofsandiego.org, see more information here.
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