During his budget announcement, Governor Newsom emphasized the urgent need for legislative action on housing by advocating for two key bills authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and Senator Scott Wiener. These measures aim to streamline housing development approvals by exempting infill projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), arguing that current procedures hinder progress and exacerbate the housing crisis. Newsom stressed that inaction is a barrier to solutions, highlighting the need for legislative reform to swiftly address California's housing challenges and improve living conditions.
"It's time to get serious about this issue, period, full stop," Newsom said this morning. "If you care about your kids you care about getting this done. This is the biggest opportunity to do something big and bold and the only impediment is us."
Wicks' Assembly Bill 609 would exempt most 'infill' housing developments from review under the California Environmental Quality Act, aiming to expedite housing approvals.
Wiener's Senate Bill 607 is a highly technical grab bag, which would make it easier for governments to approve projects without a full review, supporting infill housing.
"These bills are critical permitting reform proposals, and I applaud Gov. Newsom for including them in his proposed budget," Wiener said in a statement.
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