Office of Legislative Affairs - "The Friday Wrap-Up"

Fast Track Housing Legislative Package

Last Thursday, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) announced a 22-bill package following the release of recommendations from the Assembly Select Committee on Permitting Reform that she chairs. The report is based on a year of research, public hearings, site visits, and input from over 100 stakeholder organizations, and identifies key barriers, highlights best practices, and outlines opportunities for reform to reduce uncertainty, streamline approvals, and lower costs. The findings underscore how California’s current permitting system drives delays and increased expenses, hindering efforts to address the state’s urgent housing and climate needs.

Assemblymember Wicks along with Assemblymembers Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), Juan Carrillo (D-Palmdale), Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), David Alvarez (D-San Diego), Senator Tim Grayson (D-Concord) and Alex Fisch (Special Assistant to Attorney General Rob Bonta) held a press conference announcing the package.

“Right now, it takes far too long to build the housing Californians need — and that’s a failure of government,” said Assemblymember Wicks. “The Fast Track Housing package is about making our systems work better: clearer rules, faster timelines, and fewer bureaucratic hoops. It’s not about cutting corners — it’s about being honest that what we’re doing isn’t working. This package reflects a broad, bipartisan commitment to saying yes to housing, yes to progress, and yes to a government that helps solve problems instead of creating them.”

The measures in the package range from those that would create a statewide uniform application for housing projects, speed the process of getting approval from local governments, create exemptions to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and those dealing with legal rights and enforcement.

Wicks said there is no current estimate on how much the numerous proposals would impact the state’s estimated shortfall of 2.5 million needed homes should they all become law but expressed confidence the bills would create more certainty for homebuilders and investors, thus encouraging them to move ahead with projects they now might be hesitant to pursue.

Assemblymember Wicks' bill, AB 609 would exempt infill housing projects from the CEQA process. One study of CEQA litigation highlighted by a Little Hoover Commission report found that on average, “litigation adds almost two years to project timeframes. In the face of such lengthy delays, financing can vanish, stopping a project even if it would eventually have survived the CEQA process and been approved.” Preparing an environmental impact report can take a year or longer and cost up to $1 million. Approximately one-fourth of CEQA suits target some form of housing development, according to the study.

CEQA reform is a notoriously challenging political issue that has vexed every California governor in recent history. When he ran for governor in 2018, Newsom wrote in a Medium post that “As Governor, I will lead the effort to develop the 3.5 million new housing units we need by 2025 because our solutions must be as bold as the problem is.” He has tried to walk back that comment many times, frequently saying he was only referring to that housing target as a “stretch goal.” Despite signing numerous changes to CEQA into law, the state has not built more than 116,683 units annually since he took office.

Bills outlined below which are included in the current reform package are categorized by subject - application process, CEQA, entitlement, post-entitlement, and legal rights and enforcement. It’s important to note that many of these bills would impact the county’s permitting and development processes.

Application Process

AB 1294 (Haney) Planning and zoning: housing development: standardized application form. This bill would:

• Establish a statewide uniform application for housing projects and require a local jurisdiction to accept an application submitted on the standardized application form.
• Require that an application for a housing entitlement be deemed complete upon payment of the permit processing fees and upon providing specified information.
• Prohibit a local jurisdiction from requiring submission of any other forms, beside the standardized application form, except as specified.
• Prohibit a local jurisdiction from requiring certain information or approvals, including, among others, any requirement for preapplication submissions, approvals, reviews, meetings, consultations, public outreach notices, or any other preapplication requirements, as a condition of determining that an application for a housing entitlement is complete.
• Prohibit a local jurisdiction from imposing a penalty or an additional fee, processing requirement, or submittal requirement as a consequence of an applicant using the standardized application form.

Status: Scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee on April 9.

Notes: Sponsored by Abundant Housing LA

CEQA

AB 609 (Wicks) California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: housing development projects. This bill would create an exemption from CEQA for housing projects that meet a number of parameters including the following:

• The project site is not more than 20 acres.
• The project site is located within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality or is located within a census urbanized area.
• The project site has been previously developed with an urban use, or the parcels immediately adjacent to the site are developed with qualified urban uses, or at least 75% of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with urban uses.
• The project is consistent with the applicable general plan and zoning ordinance, as well as any applicable specific plan and local coastal program.
• The project meets specific density requirements.
• For a site not developed with urban uses, the project site does not contain tribal cultural resources.
• The local government require the development proponent to complete a phase I environmental assessment.
• If a recognized environmental condition is found, the development proponent shall complete a preliminary endangerment assessment.
• If a release of a hazardous substance is found to exist on the site, the release shall be removed, or any effects of the release shall be mitigated to levels required by current federal and state statutory and regulatory standards before the local government issues a certificate of occupancy.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee

Notes: Sponsored by CA YIMBY and Bay Area Council

SB 607 (Wiener) California Environmental Quality Act: categorical exemptions: infill projects. This bill would make a number of changes to CEQA, including:

• For projects falling short of meeting eligibility for a categorical or statutory exemption by a lead agency, SB 607 focuses the scope of the subsequent environmental review to the disqualifying reason and the facts the action or proceeding relied upon that disqualified the project from the exemption.
• Aligns the standard of review for a lead agency’s determination to adopt a Negative Declaration or a Mitigated Negative Declaration to parity with the existing standard of review for Environmental Impact Reports.
• Focuses CEQA review on the most germane administrative records by excluding communications of persons tangential or far removed from project decision-making, with specified exemptions.

SB 607 also focuses specifically on reducing delays on housing and other urban infill projects by:

• Clarifying the existing Class 32 urban infill exemption to make it usable.
• Exempting re-zonings that are consistent with an already approved housing element from CEQA, recognizing that local jurisdictions must undergo the CEQA process as a part of the housing element adoption process.

Status: Referred to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee

Notes: Sponsored by Bay Area Council, Housing Action Coalition, Rural County Representatives of California, and Prosperity CA

Entitlement

AB 357 (Alvarez) Coastal resources: coastal development permit: exclusions. This bill would exempt student housing developed by a public institution of higher education or a qualified nonprofit from review by the Coastal Commission.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Natural Resources Committee

Notes: Sponsored by the Student Homes Coalition and UC Student Association

AB 920 (Caloza) Permit Streamlining Act: housing development projects: centralized application portal. This bill would require larger cities to have a centralized application portal for all permits across departments and allow tracking in real time of applications.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee

Notes: Sponsored by Abundant Housing LA

AB 961 (Avila Farias) Hazardous materials: California Land Reuse and Revitalization Act of 2004. This bill would extend the sunset for the “California Land Recycling and Reuse Act of 2004,” from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2037. The Act provides liability protections to promote the cleanup and redevelopment of blighted contaminated properties.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee

Notes: Sponsored by the Bay Area Council

AB 1007 (Rubio) Land use: development project review. This bill would reduce the time for state and regional agencies to approve or disapprove applications for housing development projects for which they are a responsible agency, but not the lead agency, from 90 days to 45 days.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee

Notes: Sponsored by California Building Industry Association

AB 1276 (Carrillo) Housing developments: ordinances, policies, and standards. The Housing Accountability Act requires a housing development project to be subject only to the ordinances, policies, and standards adopted and in effect when a preliminary application was submitted, except as otherwise provided. The act defines “ordinances, policies, and standards” to include general plan, community plan, specific plan, zoning, design review standards and criteria, subdivision standards and criteria, and any other rules, regulations, requirements, and policies of a local agency, as defined, including those relating to development impact fees, capacity or connection fees or charges, permit or processing fees, and other exactions. This bill would include in the definition of “ordinances, policies, and standards” materials requirements, post entitlement permit standards, and any rules, regulations, determinations, and other requirements adopted or implemented by other public agencies.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee

Notes: Sponsored by California Building Industry Association

SB 328 (Grayson) Hazardous waste generator permits: housing development projects. This bill would cap the hazardous waste generation and handling fee for certain projects and set processes and timelines for the Department of Toxic Substances Control to deem compliant or approve or deny a post-entitlement phase permit.

Status: Referred to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee

Notes: Sponsored by the Housing Action Coalition and SPUR

SB 489 (Arreguin) Permit Streamlining Act: housing development projects. The Permit Streamlining Act requires a public agency to compile a list of the information required from an applicant for a development project, and, until January 1, 2030, specifies that a development project for purposes of this requirement includes a housing development project. This bill, until January 1, 2030, would require a public agency, for each approval issued in connection with a housing development project, to publish online the above-described list, including the criteria that the public agency will apply to determine the completeness of the development application and the name of the approval.

Status: Awaiting referral to a policy committee

Notes: Sponsored by the California Building Industry Association

SB 677 (Wiener) Housing development: streamlined approvals. This bill would require ministerial approval for proposed housing developments containing no more than 2 residential units on any lot hosting a single-family home or zoned for 4 or fewer residential units, notwithstanding any covenant, condition, or restriction imposed by a common interest development association. The goal of the measure is to remove provisions that have hampered the uptake of the by right duplex and lot-splitting provisions of SB 9 (Atkins, 2021) and increase the feasibility of projects subject to the by right provisions of SB 35 (Wiener, 2017).

Status: Referred to the Senate Housing Committee

Notes: Sponsored by CA YIMBY, the Housing Action Coalition, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) San Diego

Post-Entitlement

AB 557 (McKinnor) California Factory-Built Housing Law. This bill would expand the application of the California Factory-Built Housing Law to include the inspection and approval of factory-built developments, defined to mean any development project that uses factory-built housing for at least 50% of the residential square footage of the project. The bill would remove the inspection and enforcement duties on local governments and would require the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to promulgate regulations for the qualification and disqualification of installation inspection agencies. The bill would additionally authorize licensed architects, under penalty of perjury, to approve factory-built housing and factory-built development plans and specifications on behalf of HCD.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee

Notes: Sponsored by SoLA Impact

AB 660 (Wilson) Planning and Zoning Law: postentitlement phase permits. This bill would prohibit the local agency from requiring or requesting more than 2 plan check and specification reviews in connection with an application for a building permit, as part of its review. If the local agency fails to make a determination about whether housing development project applications are compliant within specified timeframes contract after the application is deemed complete, the bill would authorize the applicant to contract with or employ a licensed professional engineer or architect to check the plans and specifications for compliance with the permit standards at the applicant’s own expense.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee

Notes: Sponsored by the California Building Industry Association

AB 782 (Quirk-Silva) Subdivision Map Act: security. This bill would prohibit local governments from requiring bonding or other financial assurances related to subdivision improvements that will be privately owned and maintained.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee

Notes: Sponsored by the California Building Industry Association

AB 818 (Avila Farias) Permit Streamlining Act: local emergencies. This bill would prohibit, during the period of a local emergency, a local agency from denying an application for a permit necessary to rebuild or repair a residential property affected by a natural disaster unless the permit would result in the property being deemed a substandard building. The bill would require the local agency to approve or disapprove that application within 45 days of receipt of the application and would require other expedited approvals.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee

Notes: Author-sponsored

AB 1026 (Wilson) Planning and zoning: housing development projects: postentitlement phase permits. This bill would remove a major source of uncertainty from the development process by requiring investor-owned utilities to follow the same rules as local governments in reviewing and approving post-entitlement permits.

Status: Scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee on April 9

Notes: Sponsored by the Housing Action Coalition

AB 1206 (Harabedian) Single-family and multifamily housing units: preapproved plans. This bill would require local agencies, by July 1, 2026, to develop a program for the preapproval of single-family and multifamily residential housing plans, whereby the local agency accepts single-family and multifamily plan submissions for preapproval and approves or denies the preapproval applications. The bill would require a local agency to either approve or deny an application for a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit, within 30 days if the lot meets certain conditions and the application utilizes either a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit plan preapproved within the current triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle or a plan that is identical to a plan used in an application for a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit approved by the local agency within the current triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle.

Status: Scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Local Government Committee on April 9

Notes: Author-sponsored

AB 1308 (Hoover) Residential building permits: fees: inspections. This bill would require a county’s or city’s building department to prepare a residential building permit fee schedule and post the schedule on the county’s or city’s internet website, if the county or city prescribes residential building permit fees. Current law entitles a permittee to reimbursement of the permit fees if the county or city fails to conduct an inspection of the permitted work for which the permit fees have been charged within 60 days of receiving notice of completion of the permitted work. This bill would instead entitle a permittee to reimbursement of the permit fees if the county or city fails to conduct an inspection of the permitted work within 30 days of receiving the notice.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Local Government Committee

Notes: Sponsored by CA YIMBY

Legal Rights and Enforcement

AB 610 (Alvarez) Housing element: governmental constraints: disclosure statement. This bill would require a housing element to include a governmental constraints disclosure statement, and would prohibit any new or amended governmental constraint, or a more stringent revision of a governmental constraint, from being adopted during the planning, unless, among other things, it was both (1) included in the governmental constraints disclosure statement, and (2) the local government has completed all of the housing element program commitments to eliminate or mitigate governmental constraints contained in the prior and current planning periods, or the adoption of the measure is required by state or federal law and the local government has taken specified actions.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee

Notes: Sponsored by California Building Industry Association and SPUR

AB 712 (Wicks) Housing reform laws: enforcement actions: fines and penalties. This bill would, where the applicant for a housing development is a prevailing party in a legal action brought by the applicant to enforce a housing reform law against a public agency, would entitle an applicant for a housing development project to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs and would require a court to impose fines on a local agency. The bill would also prohibit a public agency from requiring the applicant to indemnify, defend, or hold harmless the public agency in any action alleging the public agency violated the applicant’s rights or deprived the applicant of the benefits or protection provided by a housing reform law.

Status: Scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee on April 9

Notes: Sponsored by California Building Industry Association

AB 1050 (Schultz) Unlawfully restrictive covenants: housing developments: reciprocal easement agreements. This bill would expand the existing process whereby a purchaser of a property can remove a covenant, condition, or restriction limiting the property’s use for affordable housing to include properties subject to limitations requiring that the property remain exclusively used for commercial purposes.

Status: Referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee

Notes: Sponsored by SPUR

SB 786 (Arreguin) Planning and zoning: general plan: judicial challenges. This bill would apply the same process to challenge the validity of a general plan to a charter city as currently applies to a general law city and state that this is declaratory of existing law. It also specifies that the most recently adopted compliant element of a general plan supersedes any conflicting elements or local ordinances.

Status: Referred to the Senate Local Government and Judiciary Committees

Notes: Sponsored by Attorney General Rob Bonta

Local Fire Hazard Severity Maps Released

CalFire released its final round of recommended local fire hazard severity zone maps last week. The updated fire hazard maps intend to more accurately reflect the zones in California that are susceptible to wildfire and include new science in local climate data and improved fire assessment modeling in determining hazard ratings. Hazard ratings impact residents’ defensible space standards, building codes, real estate disclosures, and insurance. The maps now designate 3,626 square miles, that includes roughly 3.7 million people, as “high” or “very high” hazard, according to an analysis done by CalMatters.

California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has been releasing these maps in installments over the last several weeks, beginning with counties in the state’s far north and ending with Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and everything inland south of Owens Valley. They only cover the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) where local fire departments are responsible for managing wildfires. The Office of the State Fire Marshal updated the State Responsibility Area (SRA) maps beginning in December 2022, with the final maps becoming effective April 1, 2024. Federal lands, which account for about 45% of all the land in California, are not included in either set of maps.

Orange County’s unincorporated LRA map can be found here: https://calfire.app.box.com/s/wahuw9ny7cgn89xpxh7092ur50r1pwvj/file/1810970891171?sb=/details

Individual pdfs of each LRA jurisdiction in Orange County can be found here: https://calfire.app.box.com/s/wahuw9ny7cgn89xpxh7092ur50r1pwvj/folder/312669458215?page=2

Following the release of the maps, more communities may seek the advice of CAL FIRE’s Land Use Planning Program which provides support to local governments including fire safety expertise on the State’s wildland urban interface building codes, wildfire safety codes, and the development of the safety elements in general plans.

Background on Fire Hazard Zones. The State Fire Marshal classifies lands within state and local responsibility areas into fire hazard severity zones. Each zone includes relatively homogeneous lands and is based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors present, including areas where winds have been identified by the department as a major cause of wildfire spread.

Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones were identified based on consistent statewide criteria and on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones are based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified as a major cause of wildfire spread. SB 63 (Chapter 382, Statutes 2021) required the adoption of all three Fire hazard severity zone classes in the LRA. Previously only very high fire hazard severity zones were required for adoption in LRA.

The Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps evaluate “hazard,” not “risk.” Much like flood zone maps, where lands are described in terms of the probability level of a particular area being inundated by floodwaters, and not specifically prescriptive of impacts. “Hazard” is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfire, or fuel reduction efforts. “Risk” is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, accounting for any modifications such as fuel reduction projects, defensible space, and ignition resistant building construction.

Potential Insurance Impacts. Insurance companies use risk models, which differ from hazard models, because they consider the susceptibility of a structure to damage from fire and other short-term factors that are not included in hazard modeling. Much of the same data that is used in the fire hazard severity zone model are likely included in the insurance companies’ risk models. However, insurance risk models incorporate many additional factors and factors that change more frequently than those that CAL FIRE includes in its hazard mapping.

The fire hazard severity zone designations and accompanying maps must follow the Administrative Procedures Act and be approved by the Office of Administrative Law. The process for adoption of the fire hazard severity maps for the SRA took a little over two years. We will continue to monitor the process and provide updates accordingly. 

Upcoming Hearings

Agendas are typically posted on the committee websites in the Assembly and Senate a few days prior to the hearings. To view hearings after they take place, you may access them in the Assembly or Senate media archives where they are generally available within a few hours of committee adjournment.

Monday, April 07, 2025, 2:30 p.m.

Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health

State Capitol, Room 127

Item No. Description

4440 Department of State Hospitals

• Budget Overview and Budget Change Proposals

4560 Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission Commission Updates

0530 California Health and Human Services Agency

4260 Department of Health Care Services

• Oversight Issue: BHCIP and Bond BHCIP Funding Updates
• Oversight Issue: CYBHI Implementation Update
• Oversight Issue: BHBH Update

 
Monday, April 07, 2025, 2:30 p.m.

Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 6 on Public Safety

State Capitol, Room 447

Item No. Description

5225 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

0552 Office of the Inspector General

Tuesday, April 8, 2025, 1:30 p.m.

Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration

State Capitol, Room 447

0509 Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development

1701 Department of Financial Protection and Innovation

Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 1:30 p.m.

Joint Hearing Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services and Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health

State Capitol, Room 444

Informational Hearing: Joint Informational Item with Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health

0530 California Health and Human Services Agency

4260 Department of Health Care Services

5180 Department of Social Services

4170 California Department of Aging

• The "Forgotten Middle" – Aging Californians and Their Long-Term Care and Housing Needs

5180 Department of Social Services

• In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program
• Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP)
• Adult Protective Services (APS)
• Related Housing and Homelessness Programs
• Program Updates and Priority Issues of Interest
• Governor's Budget Proposals

4170 California Department of Aging

• Master Plan for Aging Updates and Priorities
• Program Updates and Priority Issues of Interest
• Governor's Budget Proposals

Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 9:30 a.m.

Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation

State Capitol, Room 447

Energy Budget

3360 Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission

8660 California Public Utilities Commission

3860 Department of Water Resources

0509 Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development

Governor’s Press Releases

Below is a list of the governor’s press releases beginning March 26.

April 2: Governor Newsom proclaims Autism Acceptance Month

April 1: ADVISORY: Governor Newsom to announce major skills-based hiring and education effort

March 31: Governor Newsom proclaims César Chávez Day 2025

March 31: Early festivities soon underway as Governor Newsom and First Partner Siebel Newsom launch statewide effort to celebrate California’s 175th Anniversary

March 30: Governor Newsom proclaims Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day

March 28: California releases Master Plan to better support people with Autism and other developmental disabilities

March 28: Federal government approves California’s request to expand LA fire debris removal program

March 27: California urges FEMA to add businesses, non-profits, and multi-family structures to LA fire debris cleanup

March 27: Governor Newsom signs executive order to build Los Angeles back faster, prevent future fires

March 26: Governor Newsom honors fallen Marysville Police Department Officer

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH ACTIVITY

House and Senate Republicans Continue Working Towards Budget Reconciliation Package

GOP leadership in the House and Senate are still trying to resolve key disagreements and adopt a compromise budget resolution before the two-week Easter Break recess. The bodies continue to disagree on how to best implement President Trump’s agenda and formally begin the Reconciliation process.

Last month, each body passed a different budget resolution. The House resolution proposed $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, $2 trillion in mandatory spending reductions, and a $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling. In contrast, the Senate’s version focused on $175 billion for immigration and border enforcement, $150 billion in military spending increases, and did not extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

Language for a Compromise Resolution was released on April 2 by the Senate Budget Committee, attempting to rectify the disagreements between the previously passed House and Senate resolutions by providing different committee instructions to each body and raising the debt limit by $5 trillion. This two-tiered approach may delay a larger debate on how and where Republicans will actually cut spending long term. While initially Senate Republicans were apprehensive about a resolution like this, on Monday House GOP members, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, urged the Senators to adopt the same minimum cuts as are in the House version.

The compromise Resolution allows the extension of the TCJA using an accounting trick called the “Current Policy Baseline” which would allow them to extend the cuts and claim it costs nothing. While a ruling on the baseline is normally given by the Senate Parliamentarian, on April 1 GOP Senator’s stated they wanted to proceed with a baseline set by Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham. Democrats accused the Senators of using the “nuclear option” and said Republicans are gearing up to break precedent by ignoring the parliamentarian. A baseline is required for the Senate to proceed with reconciliation.

Given these disagreements, optimism that we will see a Reconciliation Package pass before Easter recess remains low, but Republicans are continuing to work the problem and resolve their differences. If they do not want to make policy concessions to Democrats, they will need to unlock reconciliation and pass a package before the debt ceiling is reached in late August or September.

Budget Reconciliation is a procedural tool allowing expedited consideration of certain budget/spending related bills. Reconciliation can only be “unlocked” when one party controls the House, Senate, and White House. It works by bypassing cloture and limiting debate in the Senate, reducing the threshold for passage to 51 senators. It requires the House and Senate to pass identical budget resolutions with no extraneous policy riders.

The Debt Limit (sometimes called the Debt Ceiling) is the maximum amount of money the U.S. government is authorized to borrow to meet its legal obligations, such as Social Security benefits, salaries, interest payments, etc. Hitting the Ceiling would lead to delayed payments for some government activities and/or a default on the government’s debt obligations. Congress must raise the Ceiling before the X Date, when the national debt reaches the limit.   

House Speaker Mike Johnson Loses Rules Vote, Cancelled Floor Activity This Week

The Speaker of the House Mike Johnson tried to use a procedural tactic to block a resolution to allow proxy voting by members of Congress who recently gave birth. Johnson has previously argued that proxy voting is unconstitutional and on April 1 called it “pandora’s box.”

Nine Republicans joined with House Democrats in supporting proxy voting for new mothers after a privileged resolution was brought by Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna. Since the coalition struck down the rules package, there will be no further floor action in the House of Representatives this week. This will delay votes on an election bill (the SAVE Act), limitations on judicial authority (NORRA), and other Administration priorities until next week, when they could conflict with other self-imposed deadlines and run up closer to Easter recess.

Rep. Issa Bill Limiting the Jurisdiction of U.S. District Court Judges Providing Injunctive Relief Will Come to the House Floor and is Gaining Traction 

Rep. Darrell Issa (CA-48) introduced H.R. 1526, the “No Rouge Rulings Act” (NORRA) following the preliminary injunction against the Trump Administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged members of Tren De Agua gang to El Salvador for detention. 

NORRA seeks to limit injunctive relief ordered by a U.S. District Court Judge to the named parties in the case. Using the example of federal workers, only workers named in the case, or who are pre-registered members of the class party to the case would receive any injunctive relief (such as temporary return offers). Therefore, the Bill would limit the impacts of District Court injunctions on the Administration’s executive orders, requiring a nationwide injunction to come from the U.S. Court of Appeals. 

The Bill will likely be brought to the floor next week and is expected to pass the House. Representative Jim Jordan has written a letter to the Appropriations Committee, asking that they include similar language to NORRA in the Appropriations bills, and held a committee hearing on the issue on Tuesday April 1. On Monday, March 31, Senator Chuck Grassley introduced a companion to NORRA in the Senate, a hearing began on Wednesday, April 2.  

EXECUTIVE BRANCH ACTIVITY

President Trump to End Back and Forth on Tariffs, Declaring April 2 “Liberation Day”

President Donald Trump announced a new slew of tariffs on nearly every country in the world on April 2. Along with this announcement, a previous exemption from the earlier tariffs imposed on Mexican and Canadian products to allow for vehicle imports to continue freely expired on April 3.

The Administration has said tariffs will encourage companies to invest in U.S. manufacturing despite concerns that increased import taxes could lead to higher prices and negatively impact downstream industries. While American steel and aluminum producers might benefit, the broader economic implications remain uncertain. Economists warn that these tariffs could lead to higher prices, job losses, and strained international alliances. 

The Administration has acknowledged an “adjustment period,” but remains optimistic that the long-term benefits will outweigh any immediate downturn.

US Department of Justice (DOJ) Issues Memo Initiating Reduction in Force and Agency Reorganization Process

A March 25 memo was released Monday, March 31 confirming how the DOJ intends to come into compliance with the Administration’s executive orders (EOs) on DOGE and the “Workforce Optimization Initiative.”

The memo solicits written feedback from internal offices on consolidating grantmaking functions within the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), and others. It also proposes consolidating policymaking offices into the Office of Legal Policy, covering a wide swath of experts retained by DOJ for their specific knowledge.

The memo further asks that many support functions be consolidated or reduced to the minimum staffing required to meet basic needs, seeks to close many field offices, and consolidates the DEA and ATF into one agency. All of these actions are still proposals, and final guidance on staffing levels and a larger Reduction in Force (RIF) have not been filed, but the memo generally follows the patterns we have seen across other agencies as DOGE moves to rapidly reshape the federal bureaucracy.

EPA Opens Public Comment Period on Proposed Rule Regarding the Definition of Waters of the United States

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has opened a public comment period on a proposed rule defining "Waters of the United States" (WOTUS). This rule aims to clarify the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act, following the 2023 Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA. The EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers plan to engage with various stakeholders, including state and tribal co-regulators, industry representatives, environmental groups, and the general public, through listening sessions and written recommendations. The deadline for public comments is April 23, 2025.

Stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback on several key points: defining "relatively permanent" waters, understanding "continuous surface connection" for adjacent wetlands, and determining the scope of jurisdictional ditches. The agencies seek input on how to identify these waters in the field, considering factors like flow regime, duration, and seasonality. The goal is to develop clear and implementable definitions that align with the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Clean Water Act.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Begins Work on Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act with Testimony from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

The Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) heard testimony on April 2 from the Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. The hearing was the starting point for development of the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act.

EPW Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia laid out the GOP’s intentions for the bill as: improving the safety and reliability of America’s surface transportation network with impactful investments, primarily accomplished through reallocating discretionary funding back into highway formula funding; reforming and modernizing federal programs and policies to increase efficiency by reducing federal regulations governing Department of Transportation (DOT) projects; and returning programmatic discretion to the states.

The 2021 Surface Transportation Reauthorization was ultimately wrapped up in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Act generally provides authorization for funding related to roads and public transportation.  

President Trump Unilaterally Cuts $3 Billion from FY25 Continuing Resolution

President Donald Trump signed a memo effectively cancelling almost $3 billion in foreign aid, science programs, and economic development spending enacted in the FY25 Continuing Resolution.

Congress designated 27 accounts within the Continuing Resolution as emergency spending, a designation the President is required by law to adhere to. Even so, the President's Director of Office of Management and Budget Russel Vought declined to designate 11 of the 27 accounts, effectively canceling the funding. The total amount equals roughly $3 billion in government spending.

Senate Appropriations Chair and Ranking Member Susan Collins and Patty Murray sent a letter expressing their dissatisfaction with this choice. They shared concerns about potential impacts to future budget and appropriations negotiations and lamented that the Committee was not given advance notice (instead finding out through the press).

Major programs cut cover $1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance, $310 million in US aid to Europe and Eurasia, $300 million in economic growth programs and supply chain security, $115 million for Department of State projects on fentanyl, narcotics, and other international criminal issues, foreign military financing, and scientific research. Some House Democrats criticized the decision, claiming it was illegal, possibly indicating a new set of lawsuits against this action.

EPA Moves to Cancel Inflation Reduction Act Grants

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works released internal EPA documents listing about 400 environmental grants targeted for elimination, including 62 in California. A group of Democratic Senators, including Sen. Padilla and Sen. Schiff sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, asserting the termination of the grants and “attempts to impound Congressionally-appropriated, legally-obligated funds protecting clean air and clean water and powering domestic investment in low-cost clean energy” was illegal and violated previously issued court orders addressing federal funding freezes.

The Inflation Reduction Act includes specific provisions directing funding to disadvantaged communities, including $3 billion designated for environmental protections in communities facing economic hardship. The cancellations will almost certainly result in legal challenges. Plaintiffs will be joining a growing chorus across agencies as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) rapidly cancels federal grants and contracts.

The EPA has also announced plans to close its Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights, placing nearly 170 employees on leave. We assume this is in advance of a proper Reduction in Force (RIF), formally laying off the employees.

Secretary Kennedy Announces 10,000 Employees to be Laid Off at the Department of Health and Human Services, New Cuts to Public Health Programs, and Limits on Public Comment Periods

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced HHS would lay off 10,000 employees (combined with prior layoffs, a 24% reduction in staff) and consolidate the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH),Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and others into the new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA).

HHS oversees the CDC, NIH, Medicare and Medicaid, the FDA, SAMHSA, and a myriad of other programs. Its employees are spread all over the country and the world, inspecting imported food and pharmaceuticals, conducting research, and administering programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

This follows the Administration withdrawing COVID Era programs that provided supplemental funding to state and local public health departments through the pandemic. The programs primarily focused on COVID testing, vaccination, and outreach. More recently, the funding has been used to fortify public health systems and prepare infrastructure for future emergencies.

The estimated total of discontinued grants is $12.4 billion, the vast majority coming from CDC. Around $1 billion in grants under SAMHSA will be discontinued as well. HHS has already begun to issue formal notices that funding will be terminated, and they expect to continue to issue notices through April.

HHS also rescinded the requirement for public comment periods on most key policies. This change will significantly limit stakeholder engagement in rulemaking, particularly concerning Medicaid. Exact guidance has not been released.

DHS Secretary Noem Proposes Restructuring or Eliminating FEMA

Following President Donald Trump’s March 19^th executive order (EO) aiming to give state and local governments more responsibility in preparing for natural disasters and cyberattacks, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem privately voiced support for shrinking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Multiple sources confirmed Noem intends to eliminate FEMA’s role in funding long-term rebuilding programs and halt pre-disaster mitigation spending. This comes after Noem publicly stated they were going to eliminate FEMA. No solid plans have been announced, though prior public comments from the White House and FEMA’s Acting Administrator introduced the idea that FEMA’s responsibilities would be diminished to address only immediate needs for life saving or sustaining operations like search and rescue, shelter, food, and water.

FEMA grants currently provide funding for hazard mitigation, pre-disaster preparation, warning systems, and immediate aid in the event of disaster. They support multiple state programs, including for intelligence collection and sharing and funding for Emergency Operations Centers run by local fire departments and law enforcement.

A FEMA advisory council chaired by Sec. Noem and Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth has opened a public comment period on the issue, though there has been rumors the Administration will abolish the Council in advance of the release of its recommendations (anticipated in late July).

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED BY THE ORANGE COUNTY DELEGATION THIS WEEK

Friday 04/04

California colleges report no financial aid delays so far but fear federal upheaval -- University officials fret that cuts to the U.S. Department of Education could disrupt federal grants and loans. Amy DiPierro EdSource -- 4/4/25

Fight over phonics: Will California require the ‘science of reading’ in K-12 schools? -- The battle over the best way to teach children how to read has re-erupted in the California Legislature, as dueling factions haggle over a bill that would mandate a phonics-based style of reading curriculum. Carolyn Jones CalMatters -- 4/4/25

Thursday 04/03

A broken system is keeping California homes underinsured. Millions have no idea they’re at risk -- Using faulty algorithms and flawed processes, the state’s biggest insurance companies routinely underestimate what their clients will need to rebuild. For wildfire survivors, it's a gut punch at the worst possible time. Susie Neilson and Megan Fan Munce in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/3/25

Immune amnesia: Why even mild measles infections can lead to serious disease later -- Even a mild case of measles destroys the memory cells that confer resistance on bugs the patient has previously fought, in what doctors call “immune amnesia.” A measles outbreak has infected nearly 500 people in 19 states, including California. Vaccinations prevent both the measles and the subsequent loss of immune protections. Corinne Purtill in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/3/25

Wednesday 04/02

California lawmakers make first moves to improve housing affordability -- They include measures to allow homeowners and developers to bypass their local building department, require state permitting departments to move faster and freeze current building standards to block more restrictive ones in the future. Kate Wolffe in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/2/25

Sierra Nevada snowpack sees most bountiful three years in a row in 25 years -- In a much-needed break after multiple years of severe droughts over the past two decades, California’s statewide Sierra Nevada snowpack, which provides nearly one-third of the state’s water supply, was at 96% of its historical average on Tuesday, up from 83% a month before. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury$ Ian James in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/2/25

Tuesday 04/01

State Farm seeks 39% rate hike for 430,000 Californians who have extra liability insurance -- The company is seeking to raise rates by 39% for the California Personal Liability Umbrella Program, which provides additional coverage for legal liabilities like steep attorney’s fees from a car accident or damages from a defamation lawsuit. Maliya Ellis in the San Francisco Chronicle$ -- 4/1/25

This bill aims to help firefighters with cancer. Getting it passed is just the beginning -- As firefighters battled the catastrophic blazes in Los Angeles County in January, California’s U.S. senators, Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, both Democrats, signed on to legislation with a simple aim: provide federal assistance to first responders diagnosed with service-related cancer. Mark Kreidler KFF Health News in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/1/25

Monday 03/31

Winds hamper crews battling fast-moving Silver fire in Inyo, Mono counties -- A vegetation fire was threatening structures in Inyo and Mono counties on Sunday evening, spurring mandatory evacuations in a portion of Mono County. Seema Mehta and Amy Hubbard in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/31/25

How could potential cuts and changes in Medi-Cal affect Californians? -- Over the next two weeks, Congress will again consider massive spending cuts, cuts that could dramatically affect the 15 million Californians who rely on Medi-Cal. David Lightman in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/31/25

Weekend 03/30-03/29

This California law was supposed to stop gasoline price gouging. Has it? -- Two years after California’s Democratic leaders declared victory over big oil with a law aiming to crack down on industry profits, the state has been unable to prove companies engage in price gouging when the cost of gasoline spikes in California. Nicole Nixon in the Sacramento Bee$ -- 3/30/25

California suspends environmental laws to speed rebuilding of utilities after L.A. fires -- In a continued effort to expedite rebuilding after Los Angeles’ devastating firestorms, Gov. Gavin Newsom this week suspended California environmental laws for utility providers working to reinstall key infrastructure. Grace Toohey in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/29/25