Building Industry Group Opposes New California Law Raising Housing Concerns

The Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC) has voiced strong opposition to California Senate Bill 1087, which was recently signed into law. BIASC contends that the legislation, sponsored by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), will exacerbate housing affordability issues and diminish local decision-making authority in regional planning.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1087 on September 30. BIASC argues that the bill introduces new regional planning requirements tied to greenhouse gas reduction and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) targets. The industry group believes these mandates will create uncertainty for housing development and increase costs in a state already facing a significant housing shortage.

"California cannot solve its housing affordability crisis by creating additional uncertainty around where and how housing can be built," said BIASC CEO Jeff Montejano. "SB 1087 may now be law, but the larger issue remains: Southern California deserves a regional planning system that is transparent, accountable to its member cities and counties, and aligned with the state's housing goals."

The opposition effort against SB 1087 generated over 510,000 emails from the public and industry members. BIASC plans to shift its focus to advocating for reforms in SCAG's governance, transparency, and accountability to ensure regional decisions better reflect the needs of local governments and residents.