California Exempts Building Projects From Environmental Law (1)

July 1, 2025, 1:14 AM UTCUpdated: July 1, 2025, 2:31 AM UTC

A range of home and manufacturing construction projects will be exempt from California’s landmark environmental review law under measures Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Monday.

The budget trailer bills (AB 130 and SB 131) create numerous carveouts for developers from having to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act. Backers of the legislation argue the law has been weaponized to slow down or block construction, becoming an obstacle to building in a state where homes are twice as expensive as a typical US home.

The state Senate and Assembly passed the measures earlier Monday. The votes amounted to a ...

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