By Jorge Casuso

July 17, 2025 -- July 17, 2025 -- Historic reforms to boost housing development across California will have little, if any impact, on Santa Monica, according to a leading land use attorney.

Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131, enacted on June 30 as part of the 2025-26 State budget, will "deliver the most consequential housing and infrastructure reform in recent state history," Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement after signing the bills.

The legislation streamlines approvals for large housing projects by dramatically cutting down, or eliminating, costly and lengthy environmental reviews under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

“These new CEQA reforms are a bold step forward toward tackling the root causes of California’s affordability crisis," said a joint statement issued by the bills' sponsors, Sen. Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland).

"These bills get red tape and major process hurdles out of the way, allowing us to finally start addressing these shortages and securing an affordable California and a brighter future.”

Santa Monica implemented the reforms outlined in the bill five years ago, when it allowed major housing developments outside residential zones to be approved administratively by planning officials.

"It's definitely a big deal for the State," said prominent land use attorney Dave Rand, who represents Santa Monica housing developers.

"Santa Monica, to its credit was ahead of the curb and streamlined housing before the big change," Rand said. "It's one of the few places in the state where this isn't really a story."

The only projects the new State laws could impact are those within the Bergamot Area Plan that are subject to site restrictions, Rand said.

Santa Monica's streamlined approval process for major housing projects was adopted by a staunchly pro-housing Council in March 2020 ("City Council Begins Clearing Path for Nearly 9,000 New Housing Units," March 12, 2020).

But when the Council super-majority was swept out of office eight months later, a new slow-growth council put the breaks on fast-tracked housing projects after the biggest local housing development in 60 years was approved with little public input.

That decision, however, was swiftly reversed last December, when housing advocates regained a super-majority and lifted the site restrictions, except for housing developments under the Bergamot Area Plan ("New Council Moves to Streamline Housing Process," December 16, 2024).

"One place in the city where (the new housing legislation) does matter is the Bergamot area, which has its own ordinance," Rand said.

In addition to exempting housing, Weiner's bill creates nine major new CEQA exemptions for projects ranging from health and day care centers to clean water projects and parks.

SB 131 passed the Assembly 50-3 and the Senate 33-1, while AB 130 passed the Assembly 67-0 and the Senate 28-5.