Focus
California lawmakers launch ambitious “Fast Track Housing” legislative package to confront statewide crisis
Vanguard News Group – March 28
In a show of bipartisan and bicameral unity, California lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping 20-bill legislative package aimed at overhauling the state’s housing development process. Branded as the “Fast Track Housing” package, the legislation targets systemic inefficiencies that have long stifled housing production in the nation’s most populous and cost-burdened state. “This package is a bicameral, bipartisan effort of legislators who are dedicated to making sure government works for the people that we serve,” said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Chair of the Select Committee on Permitting Reform. “The Fast Track Housing package is about making our systems work better: clearer rules, faster timelines, and fewer bureaucratic hoops.”
At the heart of the initiative is an attempt to streamline every phase of the housing approval process—from application submission to post-entitlement inspections—without compromising environmental integrity or safety standards. It includes key reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a law that, while originally intended to protect the environment, has increasingly been wielded to delay or kill infill housing projects. The 20-bill package is structured around five key stages of housing production: application, CEQA compliance, entitlement, post-entitlement, and legal enforcement. Each bill aims to close loopholes, shorten timelines, and provide greater clarity for developers, cities, and the public.
Among the standout proposals:
- AB 1294 (Haney): A statewide uniform housing application to eliminate inconsistencies between jurisdictions.
- SB 786 (Arreguín): Clarifies housing element law to provide certainty for developers and streamline legal enforcement.
- AB 1308 (Hoover): Speeds up inspection timelines and allows applicants to hire private professionals for building inspections.
- AB 1276 (Carrillo): Locks in state and regional regulations at the time of application to prevent mid-process changes that kill projects.
- AB 609 (Wicks): CEQA exemption for infill projects meeting strict environmental and zoning standards.
“This is not about cutting corners,” Wicks emphasized. “It’s about being honest that what we’re doing isn’t working.”
News
New fire maps increase hazard zones in L.A. and Southern California by 3.5 million acres
Los Angeles Times – March 24
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has released updated fire-hazard severity-zone maps for Los Angeles County for the first time in over a decade, adding more than 440,000 acres to the county’s hazard zones, including a 30% increase in acres zoned in the highest severity rating. The release — which includes all of Southern California and marks the end of the agency’s two-month, statewide rollout — sets off a roughly five-month clock for L.A. city and county to receive public input, make adjustments, and begin enforcing heightened fire-safety regulations within the new zones.
Governor Newsom, San Jose mayor join forces in fight for housing
SiliconValley – March 22
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo on Tuesday pledged $10 million to help fund Governor Gavin Newsom’s ambitious housing development goals and hinted more money will follow from Silicon Valley tech companies. The event comes five days after Newsom proposed a budget with significant funds for housing development, including $500 million to build homes for middle-income workers. San Jose will supplement that sum with an additional $10 million to build housing for workers making between 60% and 80% of the area’s median income, Liccardo said. Last month, San Jose dedicated $100 million to fund affordable housing. The mayor also is working on enticing private companies to buy city bonds that would fund housing development.
San Diego Unified School District approves affordable housing for teachers
CBS8 – March 25
The San Diego Unified School District Board last Tuesday night voted unanimously to pass a series of proposals aimed at creating affordable housing for at least 10% of its staff over the next decade. Now that the proposal is approved, the district plans to begin construction on five district-owned properties, potentially creating more than 1,500 affordable housing units. This initiative would be the largest effort by any school district in California to provide affordable housing for its employees.
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