Despite the passage of dozens of new laws, California’s housing crisis remains far from solved, but the foundation for a new housing era has been laid and progress is being made through small projects and a shift in the political culture to favor building rather than blocking.
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed multiple bills aimed at accelerating construction and improving affordability, including Senate Bill 79, which fast-tracks housing near major transit systems, in a historic year for housing reform in California.
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 79, which cuts red tape, holds local governments accountable, and expands access to affordable housing near public transportation stops, in order to reduce costs, strengthen transit systems, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The YIMBY movement has shifted the narrative in California’s housing debate, pushing for more housing construction and resulting in the passage of SB 79, which allows for taller, denser buildings near major bus stops and transit lines.
Senate Bill 79, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, has passed the California Legislature and is now headed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, and aims to expand access to affordable housing by legalizing midrise, multifamily housing near major transit stops while protecting rent-stabilized apartments.
California lawmakers passed two landmark housing bills, SB 79 and CEQA reform, to address the state’s housing crisis, but their impact remains to be seen due to structural realities and local political resistance.
The California State Senate passed the Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, which will allow more homes to be built near major public transportation stops and on land owned by transit agencies, in an effort to address the state’s affordability crisis.
California YIMBY and labor unions have agreed to amendments to SB 79 that require strong labor standards for new homes built under the bill, securing support from UNITE HERE and a neutral position from the State Building and Construction Trades Union.
Greenbelt Alliance is supporting Senate Bill 79, the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, which would make it easier and faster to build new homes near major transit stops, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create a more affordable and resilient California.
New housing construction can help slow rent growth and reduce rent burdens for low-income families, while blocking construction can worsen rent burdens and increase displacement.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee has endorsed Senate Bill 79, legislation that would legalize multifamily housing near major transit stops across California, in order to address the Bay Area’s escalating housing crisis, expand affordability, and advance California’s climate goals.
The Los Angeles City Council narrowly voted to oppose SB 79, a state housing bill that would allow mid-rise apartments near major transit stops with affordable units, drawing criticism from housing advocates and pro-housing groups who argue the city is prioritizing wealthy elites over working-class Angelenos.
SB 79, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener, would require cities to allow more housing near transit stops, including mid-rise apartments within a half-mile of rail stations and frequent bus lines, in order to lower housing costs and align state transit investments with affordable housing.
California is facing a housing crisis due to local regulations that undermine state efforts to increase housing supply, such as inclusionary zoning and development impact fees, which act as a hidden tax on housing construction and slow production.
SB 79, a bill aimed at allowing multifamily housing near public transit stops, was passed by the Assembly Local Government Committee and now awaits consideration by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
California YIMBY’s Senate Bill 79, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener, has passed the Assembly Local Government Committee and is now awaiting further action on the Assembly floor, aiming to address California’s severe housing shortage by allowing more residential development near public transit.
America is missing 15 million homes due to zoning codes, permitting delays, and political resistance, which have effectively closed off the suburban growth engine and led to rising housing costs, displacement, and homelessness.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law sweeping reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Senator Scott Wiener’s SB 79, a bill designed to streamline multifamily housing near transit, while California YIMBY celebrated the “historic victory” but observers note that local land use restrictions, such as Davis’s Measure J, remain the biggest barriers to housing production.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has charged a Beverly Hills real estate agent with violating a state law by raising rents by over 30% after a disaster, and the real estate industry has a history of hiring hitmen to eliminate partners or competitors.
SB 79, a bill introduced by Senator Scott Wiener, aims to legalize more multi-family housing near public transit stations by establishing statewide zoning standards, which would help address California’s housing affordability crisis and advance climate goals.