California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a pair of bills Monday night rolling back parts of a landmark environmental law to remove barriers to tackling the state’s housing shortage.
The California legislature with bipartisan support voted last week to exempt certain projects, such as some high-density housing plans, from onerous California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reviews and approvals. Newsom pushed the legislation forward, threatening to hold up the state’s budget unless the CEQA rollbacks hit his desk, as well.
“Today’s bill is a game changer, which will be felt for generations to come,” Newsom said in a <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/06/30/governor-newsom-signs-into-law-groundbreaking-reforms-to-build-more-housing-affordability/">statement</a> referring to the CEQA overhaul.
Newsom held a press conference Monday evening touting the bills as necessary to rescue the reputation of California’s government and prove that the state is capable of solving pressing problems.
“If we can’t address this issue, we’re going to lose trust, and that’s just the truth,” said Newsom, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/us/california-environment-newsom-ceqa.html">The New York Times</a>. “And so this is so much bigger in many ways than the issue itself. It is about the reputation of not just Sacramento and the legislative leadership and executive leadership, but the reputation of the state of California.”
Newsom has promised to address California’s burgeoning housing shortage since his first campaign for governor in 2018. Now well into his second term and close to being term-limited out of office, Newsom pushed the CEQA reforms forward as he is widely seen as a potential Democratic contender for president in 2028.
CEQA was originally signed into law in 1970 by then-Governor Ronald Reagan. The law at the time it was enacted was thought to only apply to government projects, but a court decision two years later broadened the law&#8217;s application to a host of development projects.
Since then, critics have said that the law’s strict review and approval process, believed to be the toughest in the United States, has been <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook-pm/2025/07/01/ceqa-bill-signed-00436315">abused</a> by environmental activists, labor unions, California residents, and others to extract concessions in exchange for politically sensitive projects or to override construction proposals unpopular with a small group.
Environmental groups rallied against the CEQA reforms. Dozens of groups partnered together to urge lawmakers to reject the bills.
“This bill is the worst anti-environmental bill in California in recent memory,” the groups wrote in a joint <a href="https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/79/7e/ba35e6994248bac9c0237763d82a/ab-sb-131-oppose-ceqa-budget-bill-5pm-6-27-25.pdf">letter</a>. “It represents an unprecedented rollback to California’s fundamental environmental and community protections at a time in which the people of California grapple with unprecedented federal attacks to their lives and livelihoods.”

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

California Kills Environmental Reg Strangling Home Construction

CONTINUE READING

Trump Says Netflix Should Fire ‘Racist, Trump Deranged’ Susan Rice

Trump Orders Release Of ‘Any And All’ Info On Aliens And UFOs

Man Targets DHS Building With Stolen Ambulance In Attempted Arson Attack

Bill Gates Drops Out Of Keynote Speech Last Minute As Epstein Rumors Swirl

Trump Left The World Health Org Last Year. Now, He’s Replacing It.

One Of The CDC’s Biggest Critics Is Now In Charge Of The Whole Thing

News

California

Economy

Environment

Gavin Newsom

U.S.

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

California Kills Environmental Reg Strangling Home Construction