US EditionThey've done it for stadiums and climate projects. Will California lawmakers exempt housing from CEQA?
- Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, a Democrat from Oakland, introduced a sweeping 22-bill Fast Track Housing Package in Sacramento with bipartisan support, aiming to reform California's building permitting process and fast-track housing development statewide on Thursday.
- California has been grappling with a recurring housing crisis, facing a shortfall of approximately 2.5 million homes, contributing to high living costs and homelessness, prompting legislators to seek ways to expedite new home construction while defending environmental protections.
- Wicks' package includes measures ranging from creating a statewide uniform application for housing projects to speeding up local government approvals and creating exemptions to the 55-year-old California Environmental Quality Act , which has been a frequent target of critics like Jennifer Hernandez and Chris Elmendorf.
- Wicks stated that the bills aim to cut red tape, improve government efficiency, and deliver more affordable homes, while also acknowledging that CEQA has been "weaponized," and UC Davis law professor Chris Elmendorf noted that the proposed changes are something legislators have been unwilling to try in the past.
- If passed, the bill could potentially end California's Housing-CEQA Wars by exempting most urban housing developments from CEQA, preventing environmental lawsuits and legislative debates over project exemptions, though its passage remains uncertain even in the current pro-building political environment.
15 Articles
15 Articles
A fix to CA's housing crisis? New bill package aims to streamline home building
Bay Area Assemblymember Buffy Wicks brought forward a legislative package of 22 different bills, all aimed at fixing California's housing crisis by reducing bureaucratic red tape.
They've done it for stadiums and climate projects. Will California lawmakers exempt housing from CEQA?
California lawmakers on Thursday introduced a sweeping set of proposals to quickly build more homes and experts say one of them could be a game-changer in the state's housing crisis.
California lawmakers to introduce bill to fast-track home production
State lawmakers on Thursday are introducing a sweeping bill aimed at fast-tracking the production of homes in California. Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks of Oakland and Matt Haney of San Francisco will join other lawmakers in Sacramento to introduce a bipartisan bill called the Fast Track Housing Package. It proposes easier and quicker construction of new homes in the state. The package includes 22 housing bills that Wicks’ office says will “cut red…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left, 50% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
