California Lawmakers Target Manufacturing Carveout in Review Law

Nov. 20, 2025, 10:00 AM UTC

Some California legislators are pushing to roll back a recently enacted measure benefiting technology companies that exempts advanced manufacturing facilities from the state’s landmark environmental review law.

Lawmakers approved sweeping changes to the California Environmental Quality Act in June as part of passage of the state’s budget bill, handing a major victory to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and legislators who argue the law has been weaponized to block the construction of much-needed housing in a state where the median home price is over $880,000.

The changes went further than housing, however, exempting semiconductor plants and industrial biotechnology facilities in a ...

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