Lead Authors: Glazer, Caballero
Summary: CEQA, the California Environmental Quality Act, requires state and local agencies to identify environmental impacts of their actions and then avoid or mitigate those impacts. This longstanding law has proven instrumental in retaining a seat the table for environmental considerations related to housing and construction projects. SB621 was one of two 2019 bills, along with SB25, that would’ve weakened CEQA processes in order to expedite new construction. While perhaps well-intentioned, both bills laid blame for California’s lack of affordable housing at the feet of CEQA and environmental concerns – an unfair attribution of blame. We and our allies contend affordable housing scarcity can be – and must be – addressed without sacrificing environmental protections. This bill passed the Senate but did not see a vote in the Assembly.