The California Chamber of Commerce has launched the Building an Affordable California ballot initiative to modernize the state’s 55-year-old California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The measure would set clear timelines for environmental review, public input, and judicial proceedings for critical housing and infrastructure projects, reducing costly delays that have long slowed development.

BOMA California is proud to support this effort to ensure timely decisions on essential projects like housing, water, transportation, energy, and public safety facilities. Modernizing CEQA is a key step toward strengthening California’s economy and delivering the infrastructure and housing our communities need.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty is proposing a 2026 ballot measure to create a new real estate transfer tax projected to raise $8–9 million annually for housing initiatives. While details are still emerging, the plan appears similar to Los Angeles’ Measure ULA, which imposed a transfer tax on high-value property sales. Since its passage, Measure ULA has been tied to sharp drops in commercial real estate activity—NAI Capital reports year-over-year sales declines in Los Angeles of 63% for industrial, 45% for office, 33% for retail, and 15% for multifamily properties—prompting city leaders to pursue legislative fixes.

The deadline for the Governor to sign or veto bills passed last week. 2025 has proven to be an eventful legislative year for our industry, as our industry played a key role in passing the warehouse bill fix SB 415, passed industry sponsored bill on timely hearings in commercial unlawful detainer cases, and helped defeat several bills that would have harmed commercial real estate. 

We are pleased to share our report outlining our efforts and the outcomes of the bills with the greatest impact on our industry. Thank you for your continued membership and support of our industry!