pro-Abundance bills are in the California Legislature right now
Housing
SB 79 - by Senator Wiener
Would increase housing density and building heights allowed near major transit stations. Solves the problem of local jurisdictions blocking denser housing from where future residents would be most likely to ride public transportation, thereby reducing traffic and vehicle emissions. Major pro-housing, pro-transit, pro-climate bill.
AB 609 - by Assemblywoman Wicks
Creates an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for housing projects that are compliant with local laws and in environmentally friendly locations. Will make it easier to build housing within existing urban areas.
AB 1007 - by Assemblywoman Rubio
Would reduce the time agencies need to act on permit applications from 90 days to 45 days.
AB 1026 - by Assemblywoman Wilson
Would force utility companies to review housing applications in specific timelines, shortening a common source of delay.
AB 1206 - by Assemblyman Harabedian
Would require cities to create pre-approved housing plans that could be approved within 30 days if used.
AB 1294 - by Assemblyman Haney
Would create a standardized housing application that must be accepted by all cities and counties in California.
Clean Energy
AB 825 - by Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris
Would finance new electrical transmission lines needed to support future green energy projects.
AB 420 - by Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris
Streamlines minor land transactions needed for renewable energy projects. Status quo makes these transactions happen only at the end of a lengthy process, often delaying projects 6-12 months.
AB 854 - by Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris
Would exempt from CEQA projects that consist of the inspection, maintenance, repair, restoration, or reconditioning of electrical transmission lines.
AB 915 - by Assemblywoman Petrie-Norris
Funds local agencies to permit new clean energy projects.
Transit
SB 445 - by Sen. Scott Wiener
Transportation permit streamlining. The bill would cut red tape for long-delayed transit projects, which would reduce budget and time to completion.
Litigation reform
SB 607 - by Sen. Scott Wiener
Reforms the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to reduce its abuse. Currently, anyone can hire a lawyer and a PhD to tie up any project in court (housing, transit, clean energy, art installations… literally anything that needs a permit) by claiming a potential harm to the environment, as they define it. SB 607 would return CEQA to a bona fide environmental law, not a stop-anything-because-you-don’t-like-it law.