In June, California Democrats rushed to significantly roll back the state’s landmark environmental law to clear the path for land development.

Environmental justice advocates weren’t happy. Because of changes signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, certain developments now are exempt from environmental reviews, which advocates fear will cut out tribal community feedback, threaten endangered species and lead to more pollution for some of the state’s most at-risk residents. Facing backlash, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire promised a fix.

“That is an issue that we're going to need to continue to focus on in the weeks and months to come before we leave this session in September,” McGuire told his fellow senators in June.

He’s now run out of time. With just hours until the legislat

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