On June 30, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law two budget trailer bills, which prove to be the most consequential reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) in the law’s 55-year history. Governor...more
As the two-month anniversary of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties approaches, on March 1, 2025, Governor Newsom issued a Proclamation of a State of Emergency to expedite fire-prevention projects....more
In response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-4-25 on January 12, 2025 to expedite the recovery process in affected communities. The following...more
1/15/2025
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Wildfires
On September 29, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 98 (“AB 98”), which limits warehouses from being built near “sensitive receptors.” AB 98 establishes new standards for the construction warehouses of...more
On April 12, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important decision that may have major impacts on developers in California, although the degree of impact will depend on how lower courts interpret that decision. In Sheetz...more
The California Legislature’s laser focus on addressing the state housing crisis did not subside during the 2023 legislative session. While legislators proposed over 150 housing bills, only a fraction of those bills were...more
1/3/2024
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Zoning Laws
On September 28, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law two of the most anticipated housing bills of this legislative session: AB 2011 and SB 6. Both bills have the potential to increase significantly the amount of land...more
On February 15, California’s preeminent institution of higher education, UC Berkeley (“UCB”), began emailing student applicants that UCB may be forced to withdraw admissions offers as a result of a recent California Court of...more
On September 28, 2020 Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill (“AB”) 1561, which extends “by 18 months the period for the expiration, effectuation, or utilization of a housing entitlement” that was in effect on...more
On March 31, seven Bay Area counties issued stricter shelter-in-place orders and extended their effectiveness to at least May 3 (collectively, the “Orders”). As of the morning of April 2, Napa County noted that it will be...more
On March 11, Governor Newsom issued a wide-ranging Executive Order in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Some provisions aim to encourage social distancing by banning large gatherings and temporarily suspending...more