LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS

October 2008

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California Legislature Passes Climate Change Smart Growth Bill: Senate Bill 375

The California Legislature recently passed SB 375, which would compel local planning agencies to make planning choices that reduce vehicle miles traveled. It specifically requires each of the state’s 18 metropolitan planning organizations to meet the greenhouse gas emissions targets established by the California Air Resources Board (the Air Resources Board) by creating and adopting “Sustainable Communities Strategies” in the regional transportation plans utilized by the state to allocate transportation funding. SB 375 also exempts from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review those housing developments that are consistent with the Sustainable Communities Strategy as a means of facilitating infill development.