Dear Friends --

We won! Today Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law historic reforms of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), exempting environmentally-friendly infill housing.

"It is the most consequential housing reform that we've seen in modern California...Go YIMBYs!" said Governor Newsom this evening when signing these landmark bills.

California YIMBY and the entire YIMBY movement have been building towards this win for nearly a decade. It wouldn't have happened without your calls, your emails, and your visits to legislators’ offices on our 2025 Lobby Day last month.

Our movement also came together in the crucial last days to help push this landmark reform over the finish line – and we overcame strong opposition.

CEQA reform began the year as California YIMBY-sponsored AB 609 by Asm. Buffy Wicks, and as California YIMBY-supported SB 607 by Sen. Scott Wiener. Both bills were incorporated into budget trailer bills, AB 130 and SB 131 respectively, that Gov. Newsom signed into law this evening.

Make no mistake: These are historic reforms that will advance our housing, climate, and affordability goals. Some of the most important CEQA reforms include:

A "clean" exemption from CEQA for all market-rate housing in urban infill areas that is below 85 feet tall.

Prevailing wage rules for projects using the CEQA exemption that are 100% affordable, or are over 85 feet tall.

Re-zonings that are undertaken as a part of state-approved housing elements are now also exempt from CEQA.

When we send YIMBYs to Sacramento, we make it possible to win victories that many observers never thought possible.

But there's still more work to be done. Reforming CEQA is a truly major step for tackling California’s housing shortage and affordability crisis. We also need to work to pass bills making it easier to build multifamily homes near transit stops, to accelerate permitting and inspections, and to fund below-market rate housing.

These victories are made possible by allies in the legislature. And there’s an election coming up. In less than 12 months, Californians will vote in the primary on legislative seats – and in the race to pick a new governor to succeed Gavin Newsom. We need to make sure to elect housing champions so that we can win more victories in the years ahead.

Will you give $5 or more per month to celebrate our massive CEQA reform victory and help the California YIMBY Education Fund support more YIMBYs in the 2026 election?

DONATE NOW >>

(If you're already a monthly donor -- we appreciate your support!)

Thank you so much for everything you did to make this amazing victory possible.

Matthew

Matthew Lewis
Communications Director
California YIMBY

California YIMBY is a movement dedicated to ending our state’s housing crisis and building a more inclusive, affordable, and accessible state for ALL Californians. If you were forwarded this email, you can join our movement here. DONATE NOW » Want to keep track of housing issues and the YIMBY movement? Sign up for the HomeWork, our newsletter here.

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