Californians Back Newsom’s CEQA Housing Reforms

The Governor announced historic CEQA reforms to accelerate housing and infrastructure through state legislation and budget action.

• Main action: Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131 as part of the 2025-2026 state budget, creating a comprehensive streamlining package to modernize CEQA review for critical housing and infrastructure projects and provide new tools to accelerate production and reduce costs. The announcement frames these changes as part of the administration’s Abundance Agenda and says they were enacted earlier this summer.
• Supporting facts & context: A recent poll (link provided) reports broad public support: 74% overall; 70% Republicans, 81% Democrats; age breakdowns (Gen Z 73%, Millennials 75%, Gen X 73%, Baby Boomers 77%); racial breakdowns (Asian 71%, Black 82%, Hispanic 72%, white 76%). The release cites the state’s homelessness reporting showing California limited its 2024 homelessness increase to 3% versus a national increase of over 18%, and references related actions (funding announced, Proposition 1, updated conservatorship law, CARE Court).