On Monday, California lawmakers approved legislation to extend a state housing law set to expire in 2026 by a decade. The bill, Senate Bill 423 introduced by Senator Scott Wiener, would allow developers to bypass much of the bureaucratic process often blamed for blocking construction of multifamily projects in cities that lag on state-mandated housing goals. After passing the Assembly 52-8 and the Senate 27-7, it now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for approval.
The bill initially faced opposition from both labor unions and environmental groups but was amended with clarifications that it would not apply areas “environmentally sensitive or hazardous” such as those affected by sea level rise. Despite this amendment dozens of cities still oppose SB 423 including several in Los Angeles County and other coastal cities throughout Southern California.
If passed into law SB423 could lead to an increase in new homes being built across California while also helping meet statewide housing goals mandated by legislators over 10 years ago – providing relief for many Californians struggling with rising rental prices due lack of available units on the market today .
