The Building an Affordable California Act (Affordable CA) is a proposed ballot measure that modernizes California’s outdated approval process to build essential projects faster and more affordably. The measure achieves this through 10 key reforms:
• Enforceable Timelines: Agencies must approve or deny project applications within 365 days. If they miss the deadline, applicants can request a public hearing or workshop, where a final decision must be made within 60 days.
• Objective Standards for Agencies: Agencies must base their review on clear, written rules—like local ordinances, environmental laws or zoning standards—that were in place when the application was submitted.
• Guaranteed Public Input: Establishes a firm 45-day public comment period with written responses to all timely comments—ensuring public participation and accountability.
• Streamlined, Smarter Alternatives: Narrows the “alternatives” requirement to two: one feasible alternative project design that reduces environmental impacts, and one describing a “no project” scenario.
• Judicial Shot Clock: Courts must fully resolve legal challenges within 270 days.
• Fix What’s Broken: If one part of an environmental review document is rejected, only that section must be fixed—allowing the rest of the project to move forward on schedule.
• Objective Standards for Courts: Courts may only overturn project approvals if agencies ignore clear, written rules—like zoning or environmental standards—that were in place when the application was submitted.
• Evidence-Based Review: Courts must uphold a project’s approval if the agency’s decision was supported by substantial evidence.
• Strong Worker Protections: Projects built under the Act must meet California’s strongest-in-the-nation labor standards, including fair pay and safe job sites.
• Tribal Protections: Protects and strengthens government-to-government consultation by ensuring early tribal engagement, incorporating Tribal Traditional Knowledge, and enhancing confidentiality protections.
By streamlining the permitting process and reducing frivolous lawsuits, these reforms will ensure California is building the essential projects that are critical for our quality of life and our economy—reducing costs and helping make our state more affordable.
