Latest news with #AssemblyBill609
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
California lawmakers push for CEQA reforms to address housing crisis
Several California bills could lead to significant reforms of the state's environmental review law, with the goal of addressing the state's ongoing housing crisis. One of the bills, Assembly Bill 609, authored by Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), would establish a CEQA exemption for most urban housing developments. The bill is part of the Fast Track Housing Package, a collection of 20 bills that aim to expedite the approval of housing projects. The California Environmental Quality Act, enacted in 1970, requires public agencies in California to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of proposed projects and avoid those impacts, if possible. However, many argue that the law has been weaponized to block new housing projects and development. 'CEQA can be an expensive and lengthy process, especially for large or complicated projects. This is true even if there is no litigation. Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report under CEQA can take a year or longer and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even, in some cases, more than $1 million,' a 2024 report from the bipartisan Little Hoover Commission said. Liftoff! Big Bear bald eagle chick takes to the sky The Los Angeles Times also pointed out that when CEQA threatened to stop enrollment at UC Berkeley, prevented the Sacramento Kings from building their new stadium, or prevented renovations of the state Capitol, lawmakers stepped in. With the various exemptions, critics have nicknamed the law 'Swiss cheese CEQA.' 'Right now, it takes far too long to build the housing Californians need — and that's a failure of government,' Assemblymember Wicks said in a statement. 'The Fast Track Housing package is about making our systems work better: clearer rules, faster timelines, and fewer bureaucratic hoops. It's not about cutting corners — it's about being honest that what we're doing isn't working. Gov. Gavin Newsom has also announced his support for reforms to CEQA. Still, not everyone is in favor of the proposed changes to the environmental law. Dozens of environmental and labor groups, such as the California Preservation Foundation and Livable California, are opposed to the proposed changes. Improving California's housing crisis has been a priority for Newsom since taking office. In 2018, Newsom, in a Medium post, wrote, 'As Governor, I will lead the effort to develop the 3.5 million new housing units we need by 2025 because our solutions must be as bold as the problem is.' Newsom has since revised that goal, setting a new benchmark for cities to plan for 2.5 million homes by 2030. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Newsom throws support behind housing proposals to ease construction and reform permitting restrictions
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday threw his support behind two bills that would streamline housing development in urban areas, saying it was "time to get serious" about cutting red tape to address the housing crisis. Newsom said his revised state budget proposal, which he announced at a news conference Wednesday, also will include provisions that clear the way for more new housing by reforming the state's landmark California Environmental Quality Act and clearing other impediments. The governor praised Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) for sponsoring bills designed to ease the permitting process for infill projects, or building in urban areas that already have development. Newsom's housing proposal looks to force permit deadlines on the Coastal Commission, allow housing development projects over $100 million to use CEQA streamlining usually available to smaller projects, and create a fund, paid for by developers, to finance affordable housing near public transit. CEQA has long been used by opponents to impede or delay construction, often locking developers into years-long court battles. The law is so vague that it allows "essentially anyone who can hire a lawyer" to challenge developments, Wiener said in a statement. "It's time to accelerate urban infill. It's time to exempt them from CEQA, it's time to focus on judicial streamlining. It's time to get serious about this issue. Period, full stop," Newsom said during the morning budget news conference. "... This is the biggest opportunity to do something big and bold, and the only impediment is us. So we own this, and we have to own the response." Assembly Bill 609, proposed by Wicks, who serves as the Assembly Appropriations Committee chair, would create a sweeping exemption for housing projects that meet local building standards, especially in areas that have already been approved for additional development and reviewed for potential environmental impacts. Read more: California faces an additional $12-billion budget deficit, Newsom says "It's time to refine CEQA for the modern age, and I'm proud to work with the Governor to make these long-overdue changes a reality," Wicks said in a statement. Senate Bill 607, authored by Wiener, who serves as chair of the Senate Housing Committee, focuses the environmental review process and clarifies CEQA exemptions for urban infill housing projects. "By clearing away outdated procedural hurdles, we can address California's outrageous cost of living, grow California's economy, and help the government solve the most pressing problems facing our state. We look forward to working with Governor Newsom and our legislative colleagues to advance these two important bills and to secure an affordable and abundant future for California," Wiener said in a statement. Both bills are pending before the appropriations committees in the Assembly and Senate, respectively. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Newsom throws support behind housing proposals to ease construction and reform permitting restrictions
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday threw his support behind two bills that would streamline housing development in urban areas, saying it was 'time to get serious' about cutting red tape to address the housing crisis. Newsom said his revised state budget proposal, which he announced at a news conference Wednesday, also will include provisions that clear the way for more new housing by reforming the state's landmark California Environmental Quality Act and clearing other impediments. The governor praised Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) for sponsoring bills designed to ease the permitting process for infill projects, or building in urban areas that already have development. Newsom's housing proposal looks to force permit deadlines on the Coastal Commission, allow housing development projects over $100 million to use CEQA streamlining usually available to smaller projects, and create a fund, paid for by developers, to finance affordable housing near public transit. CEQA has long been used by opponents to impede or delay construction, often locking developers into years-long court battles. The law is so vague that it allows 'essentially anyone who can hire a lawyer' to challenge developments, Wiener said in a statement. 'It's time to accelerate urban infill. It's time to exempt them from CEQA, it's time to focus on judicial streamlining. It's time to get serious about this issue. Period, full stop,' Newsom said during the morning budget news conference. '... This is the biggest opportunity to do something big and bold, and the only impediment is us. So we own this, and we have to own the response.' Assembly Bill 609, proposed by Wicks, who serves as the Assembly Appropriations Committee chair, would create a sweeping exemption for housing projects that meet local building standards, especially in areas that have already been approved for additional development and reviewed for potential environmental impacts. 'It's time to refine CEQA for the modern age, and I'm proud to work with the Governor to make these long-overdue changes a reality,' Wicks said in a statement. Senate Bill 607, authored by Wiener, who serves as chair of the Senate Housing Committee, focuses the environmental review process and clarifies CEQA exemptions for urban infill housing projects. 'By clearing away outdated procedural hurdles, we can address California's outrageous cost of living, grow California's economy, and help the government solve the most pressing problems facing our state. We look forward to working with Governor Newsom and our legislative colleagues to advance these two important bills and to secure an affordable and abundant future for California,' Wiener said in a statement. Both bills are pending before the appropriations committees in the Assembly and Senate, respectively.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers push to fast-track radical housing model that could transform urban areas: 'Faster timelines and fewer bureaucratic hoops'
In February, a revolutionary housing bill was introduced in the California State Assembly. Assembly Bill 609 will streamline the approval process for urban multi-family housing on pre-developed land (a.k.a., infill housing). This presents an alternative to suburban sprawl, which develops unused land outside cities. California YIMBY, an organization that advocates for affordable housing, collaborated with Buffy Wicks, a California State Representative, to create the bill. If passed, infill housing will be exempt from review under California's Environmental Quality Act. Since it's been proven that infill housing benefits the environment, the bill's proponents argue that there's no need for such extensive review. "The science is clear: building infill housing in cities reduces pollution that causes climate change," Brian Hanlon, CEO of California YIMBY, said in a press release. "AB 609 codifies that science in law." According to the press release, new developments would still have to comply with local regulations, which are already approved by the CEQA. Building cheap, affordable housing in urban centers is key to solving California's ongoing housing crisis. Infill housing also takes less of an environmental toll. Residents will be closer to work and other daily necessities, meaning less pollution from cars and shorter commutes. More cities around the globe are waking up to infill housing. London's Elephant and Castle neighborhood utilizes infill housing to keep the city's emissions down, for example. If the process becomes simpler in California, it could set a great precedent for the rest of the United States. AB 609 is part of a larger package of bills introduced in the California state legislature in early 2025. A press release from Assemblymember Wicks' office said, "The Fast Track Housing package is about making our systems work better: clearer rules, faster timelines, and fewer bureaucratic hoops." Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
