News Summary
The California Assembly has unanimously approved Assembly Bill 571 to expedite the development of a Veterans Cemetery in Anaheim Hills, located in Gypsum Canyon. Introduced by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, the bill exempts the cemetery project from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), allowing for a quicker development process. With significant local support, the project aims to provide a much-needed final resting place for veterans in Orange County, the largest county in California without such a facility. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026, offering hope to families of veterans.
Anaheim Hills – The California Assembly has approved a significant bill aimed at expediting the development of a Veterans Cemetery in Anaheim Hills, located in Gypsum Canyon. Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva from Fullerton introduced Assembly Bill 571, which passed with unanimous support and will now move on to the Senate for further review. This legislation exempts the cemetery project from additional scrutiny under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a move intended to streamline development and mitigate the risk of lawsuits that might delay or halt the project.
With a long history of planning over a decade marked by funding challenges and previous proposals for alternate sites such as Irvine, the cemetery’s approval signifies a critical step toward establishing a final resting place for veterans and their families. Anaheim’s City Council has already endorsed the project, voting in July 2024 to divide a 283-acre site into two cemeteries: one designated for veterans and another for public use. Orange County is currently recognized as the largest county in California without a dedicated veterans cemetery, which further amplifies the importance of this development.
As it stands, pre-selling of casket spaces for the new cemetery will not commence until the facility is officially opened, given that few spaces remain available in existing cemeteries. The bill’s introduction and subsequent passage reflect not only Quirk-Silva’s personal commitment—stemming from her family’s military background—but also the collective support from all Orange County Assembly members, who co-sponsored the legislation across party lines. This bipartisan backing underscores the project as both a meaningful and necessary initiative for the community.
The primary goal of the legislation is to avoid further delays that could stem from lawsuits. A previous group advocating for a veterans cemetery in Irvine had made legal attempts to block the Gypsum Canyon project by citing the state environmental law. By exempting this project from environmental review, the intent is to expedite its completion and secure a dignified location for veterans in a region that has long felt deprived of such a facility.
Moreover, since 2011, similar significant public benefit projects have been granted exemptions from CEQA review, allowing for more efficient development processes under specific circumstances. The Assembly’s recent decision also reflects broader legislative considerations, as they are currently examining alternative protein innovations aimed at enhancing California’s food systems and supporting climate solutions.
The Assembly’s governance has showcased varying legislative focuses concurrently, highlighted by ongoing discussions over a proposed 10-year moratorium on state-level regulation of artificial intelligence, which has drawn bipartisan concern in a recent spending bill debate.
Construction of the new veterans cemetery in Anaheim Hills is anticipated to commence in 2026, a timeline that brings much-needed hope and closure to the families of veterans who have long sought a respectable final resting place. The passage of Bill AB 571 could signal the beginning of an important chapter not only for veterans but also for the entire community in Orange County.
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Additional Resources
- OC Register: Sacramento Snapshot – Legislators Seek to Fast-Track OC Veterans Cemetery
- Wikipedia: Veterans Cemetery
- LAist: Lawsuit Challenges OC’s First Veterans Cemetery
- Google Search: Orange County Veterans Cemetery
- OC Register: Irvine Mayor Larry Agran Says Building Great Park Cemetery is the Law
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Veterans Cemeteries
- ABC7: Orange County Veterans Cemetery Progress
- Google News: Anaheim Hills Veterans Cemetery
- OC Register: Veterans Cemetery Gets Approval from Planning Commission for Anaheim Hills
