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.
20 Articles
20 Articles
California State Lawmakers Propose Slate of ‘Fast Track’ Housing Bills
A group of California lawmakers have unveiled 22 proposed bills that aim to make home building easier and home buying more affordable in the Golden State. The bi-partisan and bi-cameral group hopes to expedite the sweeping “Fast Track Housing” package through the state’s Legislature. Proponents say the new laws could help builders navigate the state’s tough environmental regulations and help residents find affordable homes in a state where a hou…
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.
Panelists at Santa Maria Summit Discuss Hurdles to New Housing
A slew of state laws meant to spur new housing projects in California has had a marginal impact on development, while other factors continue to stall construction. Across the state, new housing hasn’t grown significantly despite various laws and bills to foster development, according to Mark Schniepp, director of the California Economic Forecast in Santa Barbara. “As you can see, they’ve done virtually nothing,” Schniepp said of housing laws. “…
Capitol Briefs: Fast-tracking housing, exiting X and one very tall metal woman - Capitol Weekly
It's late March and lawmakers are gearing up to fast track housing development reforms, regulate AI and implement Proposition 36. All this and a brief look at what's happening in other states...and one very tall, very naked metal woman.
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…
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