The recently amended AB 380 (Gonzalez; D-Los Angeles) remains a priority oppose bill for our industry as it would impose commercial rent control and eviction bans on leases during declared emergencies. While our industry supports the goal of preventing price gouging, the bill risks sweeping in legitimate, long-term lease agreements that have nothing to do with emergency-related abuses.

Recent amendments address some of our concerns, by lowering the duration period from 90 to 60 days, but significant issues to remain for CRE. CBPA will remain committed to fighting this proposal in the Senate as the bill is set for a vote in the Committee on Public Safety next week.

Governor Newsom recently signed a state budget along with trailer bills aimed at accelerating housing development. A key part of the package includes significant changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the law that requires environmental review of public projects. Under the new reforms, many urban infill housing developments will be exempt from CEQA requirements, reducing costly delays and legal challenges that have long hindered housing construction. However, other barriers such as high labor costs and complex permitting processes remain.

The package also included AB 130 and SB 131, which introduce new and costly regulatory burdens on housing projects by dramatically expanding the state’s already stringent Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) rules. While CEQA reform is a longstanding priority for our industry, we will continue to advocate for policies that support housing production without triggering harmful unintended consequences.

A recent news feature from ForConstructionPros emphasizes the importance of staying current with California’s complex building codes to ensure construction projects are safe, compliant, and efficient from start to finish. It outlines best practices for procedural compliance, collaboration with local building officials, and how to avoid costly delays by understanding the permit and inspection process. Of particular note is the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), a key part of Title 24 that sets mandatory sustainability and energy efficiency standards for new construction.