California has taken a major step toward protecting historic places as the state implements its new transit-oriented housing law. AB 2576 has passed the California Legislature and is now on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk!

SOHO is urging Governor Newsom to sign AB 2576 into law.

The bill, authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian and principally coauthored by Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, addresses an important gap in SB 79, the 2025 law that requires significant new housing opportunities around major transit stops. SB 79 established sweeping statewide zoning changes, but its historic-resource protections did not clearly extend to important historic districts and individually listed resources recognized in the California Historical Resources Inventory Database.

AB 2576 fixes that.

The bill would exclude from SB 79’s provisions qualifying contributing properties within historic districts listed in the California Historical Resources Inventory Database, as well as individually listed historic resources in the inventory, when designated before January 1, 2025.

Why this matters to you!

San Diego County is home to historic neighborhoods, districts, buildings, and cultural landscapes that tell the story of who we are and how our communities developed. These places are not interchangeable. Once historic neighborhoods are lost or irreparably altered, they cannot be recreated.

Adding housing should not mean sacrificing the historic resources that give our communities their character, continuity, and sense of place. AB 2576 represents an important step toward getting that balance right.

TAKE ACTION

Please take a moment to contact Governor Gavin Newsom and urge him to SIGN AB 2576. Tell the governor that California can meet its housing needs while also protecting the historic places that make its communities distinctive and meaningful.

Contact Governor Newsom

1. Go to the Governor's contact form

[CONTACT GOVERNOR NEWSOM]

2. Complete the form as follows:

Topic:

Select “An Active Bill”

What specific bill?:

Scroll down and select: “AB 2576 - Transit-oriented development: exclusions: historic sites.”

What is the purpose of your message?:

Select “Leave a Comment”

What is your stance on this topic?:

Select “Pro”

Message subject:

Enter “AB 2576”

Your message:

This is where you tell Governor Newsom why you want him to sign the bill. You can use SOHO's suggested message below, or put the request in your own words.

3. Enter your name and email address

4. Click SUBMIT

Suggested message, feel free to add your own words as well.

Dear Governor Newsom:

I am a California resident and supporter of historic preservation, and I urge you to sign AB 2576.

AB 2576 provides an important safeguard by protecting contributing properties within qualifying historic districts and individually listed historic resources from the provisions of SB 79.

Historic places give our communities their identity, character, and connection to the past. Once they are lost, they cannot be recreated.

Please sign AB 2576 and ensure that California's housing goals and historic preservation goals can move forward together.

Thank you.

AB 2576 is now in the Governor's hands. Let's make sure he hears from the people who care about California's historic places.