Description
In response to California's housing crisis, two laws were recently enacted that provide some of the most consequential reforms to CEQA in recent history—AB 130 and SB 131. The recent reforms are intended to facilitate the environmental review process and minimize CEQA legal challenges by expanding CEQA exemptions for certain housing projects with the goal of increasing housing supply and limiting the misuse of CEQA as a tool by project opponents to delay or kill housing development.
For example, AB 130 creates a new exemption for infill housing development projects, which include residential and mixed-use residential projects, that meet certain standards related to the project's acreage, location, surrounding uses, and density. Developers of qualifying projects will save significant application processing time and study costs that may otherwise have been required under CEQA. However, there are open questions as to who qualifies and how these standards may be met.
SB 131 also includes provisions to expedite approval and development of qualifying housing projects including allowing for a streamlined environmental review of housing projects that would be exempt from CEQA but for a single condition.
Real estate counsel should understand how the reforms change the housing development landscape, what impact there may be for projects that were in the process of being reviewed when the laws were enacted, and what may be required of their developer clients moving forward.
Listen as our expert panel closely examines recent CEQA reforms and project impact. The panel will discuss open questions and compliance challenges and offer best practices for guiding developer clients through this rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
Presented By
Mr. Leaderman is a Los Angeles land use attorney who focuses his practice on obtaining entitlements for complex land use planning and mixed-use developments in California. He represents clients in all aspects of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In recent years, Mr. Leaderman's practice has grown to include a particular focus on housing (single-family, townhouse/small lot subdivisions and multifamily), as well as mixed-use developments. He uses his knowledge of rapidly evolving California laws, including the Housing Accountability Act, State Density Bonus Law, Housing Crisis Act (Senate Bill 330), accessory dwelling units and Builder’s Remedy to obtain approvals for his clients' projects. Mr. Leaderman has extensive experience in guiding high-profile residential, commercial, mixed-use, hotel and medical/hospital development projects, including master-planned communities, through the approval process. His experience encompasses all types of land use permits, such as variances and conditional use permits, as well as general plan and zoning amendments. He also interacts regularly with governmental agencies at all levels, including local governments and California's Housing and Community Development Department. Mr. Leaderman assists developers in complying with CEQA and planning and zoning regulations throughout the state. In particular, he advises on mixed-use housing development projects in Southern California. He is well-versed in assisting with variances, general plan amendments, zone changes, conditional use permits, site plan reviews, subdivision maps, development agreements and other entitlements or permits necessary to move a project forward. As necessary and appropriate, Mr. Leaderman litigates land use and CEQA matters.
Mr. Phillips represents clients in all phases of the development process, including property acquisition, entitlement and administrative approvals, CEQA compliance, compliance with state housing laws, and negotiating real estate disputes. He has particular experience with State Density Bonus Law, the Housing Accountability Act, SB 35, and Housing Element Law. Mr. Phillips assists private clients to successfully obtain subdivision maps, density bonuses, development agreements, and other land use approvals. He also has served as special counsel to numerous public agencies and provides advice on writing ordinances and legislative findings related to zoning, subdivisions, inclusionary housing programs, rent control and tenant protection measures, and impact fees. In both roles, Mr. Phillips has worked with various clients to negotiate and close purchase and sale agreements, draft loan agreements, create below-market-rate rental and for-sale programs, perform property diligence, craft residential preference programs, and work with technical consultants to prepare Draft and Final EIRs.
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This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
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Date + Time
- event
Thursday, October 23, 2025
- schedule
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
I. Introduction
II. New CEQA reforms
A. AB 130
1. Exemption
2. Qualifying projects
3. Developer obligations
B. SB 131
1. Exemption
2. Qualifying projects
3. Limited scope of environmental review
III. Project impact
A. Projects under review when the laws were enacted
B. Future projects
IV. Remaining questions and compliance challenges
V. Best practices for guiding clients through the new legislative requirements
The panel will review these and other important issues:
- What is the purpose of the recent CEQA reforms?
- What CEQA exemptions are provided under AB 130 and SB 131?
- What are the qualifying standards for meeting these exemptions? What questions remain as to who qualifies?
- How will the reforms impact projects that were already under review when the new laws were enacted? New projects moving forward?
