21167.1.
(a) In all actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Sections 21167, 21168, and 21168.5, including the hearing of an action or proceeding on appeal from a decision of a lower court, all courts in which the action or proceeding is pending shall give the action or proceeding preference over all other civil actions, in the matter of setting the action or proceeding for hearing or trial, and in hearing or trying the action or proceeding, so that the action or proceeding shall be quickly heard and determined. The court shall regulate the briefing schedule so that, to the extent feasible, the court shall commence hearings on an appeal within one year of the date of the filing of the appeal.(b) To ensure that actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Sections 21167, 21168, and 21168.5 may be quickly heard and determined in the lower courts, the superior courts in all counties with a population of more than 200,000 shall designate one or more judges to develop expertise in this division and related land use and environmental laws, so that those judges will be available to hear, and quickly resolve, actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Sections 21167, 21168, and 21168.5.
(c) In an action or proceeding filed pursuant to this chapter that is joined with any other cause of action, the court, upon a motion by any party, may grant severance of the actions. In determining whether to grant severance, the court shall consider such matters as judicial economy, administrative economy, and prejudice to any party.
(d) (1) In all actions or proceedings brought pursuant to this division, a filing party shall include with the filing a disclosure of the identity and interests of the party.
(2) For purposes of this section, the identity and interests of the party include, but are not limited to, the identity and interests of all individuals, corporations, unions, or others involved in the action or proceeding, and the attorneys retained to represent the filing party.
(3) In the event a filing party that has previously brought an action or proceeding concerning a project makes a subsequent filing in an action or proceeding concerning the same project, the court may request more information as needed, including, but not limited to, financial statements and testimony.