April 2025 APA California Legislative Update

The Legislative Session is now in full swing with hundreds of bills being set in their respective policy committee(s), where they will need to pass to meet the May 2 policy committee deadline for bills with a fiscal impact, and May 9 for all other bills. Planning-related issues are front and center. A top priority of the Governor and Legislature continues to be addressing the housing and homeless crisis, which has been increased in intensity given the fires in LA County and severe loss of housing at the start of the year. The level of planning-related bills that have been introduced this year is significant and APA California’s Legislative Team continues to work through review and feedback. Given the level this year, positions on bills are still forming, however we are in several discussions to address concerns. Noteworthy – a bipartisan group of members have introduced a sweeping permitting reform package that attempts to speed up the housing approval process from application, CEQA review, entitlement, post-entitlement plan check, inspection and enforcement. This 22 bill package is a top priority for APA California’s review.

APA California has also participated in several conversations on technical clean-up to AB 98 (Carrillo, 2024), which was introduced and passed at the end of session in 2024 and creates new warehouse standards and requires local agencies to update their circulation elements to include truck routes. The two vehicles for this clean-up effort have been introduced – AB 735 (Carrillo) and SB 415 (Reyes). As the bills move, we will continue to advocate for technical changes to that will provide planners with more clarity and assistance in implementation. For now, the language in both bills are identical and only includes minor clarifications. Stay tuned for more to evolve on these bills in May.

For more information on all the bills APA California is currently tracking, you can always visit the website for the current list. As we develop positions on bills moving in the Legislature, APA California will share position letters, so stay tuned. Note that even if you don’t see a position letter on a particular bill, that doesn’t mean we aren’t working on it. We often work in advance of taking a position to try and address concerns where possible. In fact, we are doing this as we speak!

To help shape our state advocacy efforts, APA California’s Board approved the 2025-2026 Legislative Platform, titled “Plan California” which is updated at the start of every two-year legislative session. The Platform outlines positions on priority issues and serves as the guiding document for the Chapter’s lobbying efforts in the Legislature. The Platform can also be used as the framework for local advocacy efforts by APA California Sections as well. While the Chapter does not take positions or advocate for or against local planning issues, this does not preclude individual Sections from getting involved in such issues consistent with the Platform.

If you’re interested in receiving updates on legislative and regulatory issues from the Chapter’s Policy and Legislation Team, please join here. Have questions on policy and legislative related issues, including bills and regulations? APA California members are welcome to reach out to the VP for Policy and Legislation at policy@apacalifornia.org.

APA California has a robust legislative program at the Chapter level that engages with the California Legislature. The Policy and Legislation team includes an elected VP for Policy and Legislation, two appointed Legislative Technical Advisors, and a Lobbyist retained by the Chapter. The team engages directly with APA California Section Legislative Representatives from each of the 8 Sections within the Chapter to discuss feedback on legislation and other relevant issues regularly throughout the year. To view the Policy and Legislation team, visit the Board of Directors page.

APA California actively engages in many bills throughout the year. In fact, we work closely with legislative and committee staff on amendments and clarifications to bills before taking a position. As an organization, APA California is often asked to provide feedback on planning related bills and provide technical expertise, giving a voice to planners and an opportunity to help shape legislation. This is a valuable role that the Chapter works hard to maintain. More broadly, we will continue to discuss the work planners are doing at the local level to implement and keep up with all the planning related bills that pass year over year and how that relates to the cumulative impact of bills on the table this year. We also continue seek opportunities to suggest tangible
ways, absent fiscal resources at the state level, that the Legislature can help to make implementation more successful and support the planning community.