California Governor Signs Bill to Streamline Student Housing Construction at Berkeley's People's Park

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1307, a measure aimed at removing barriers to housing construction by addressing the misuse of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The legislation, introduced by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, allows universities to develop affordable housing without considering residential noise as a significant environmental effect under CEQA. It also eliminates the requirement for public universities to consider alternative locations for housing projects. The move comes in response to a court ruling that blocked UC Berkeley's housing development due to noise impacts. Governor Newsom and legislators are committed to making it easier to build the housing the state desperately needs.