More than 100 organizations from across California are now supporting the Building an Affordable California Act, according to a May 6 announcement from the coalition backing the measure.
The coalition, which includes civil rights leaders, healthcare providers, affordable housing advocates, clean energy builders, water suppliers, agricultural groups and small business organizations, aims to lower costs by cutting red tape and speeding up construction of essential housing and infrastructure projects. The measure is intended for the November 2026 statewide ballot.
“This growing coalition sends a clear message: Californians are ready to build the essential infrastructure we need to lower our cost of living and improve our quality of life,” said Jennifer Barrera, President and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce. “Californians depend on essential projects every day. Affordable CA will help us deliver those projects faster, more affordably, and with the accountability communities deserve.”
Supporters say that modernizing project approval processes could reduce timelines by as much as ten years in some cases. Rick Callender, President of the NAACP California/Hawaii State Conference said: “California’s affordability crisis hits historically underserved neighborhoods hardest, driving up housing costs, delaying investment, and putting essential services further out of reach. Affordable CA will help break down barriers that keep communities waiting and deliver the infrastructure that our state needs faster and more affordably.” Jenna Abbott of the California Council for Affordable Housing added: “When affordable housing takes years to approve, costs rise…Affordable CA will help create a clearer, faster path to delivering the affordable housing Californians urgently need.” Carmela Coyle from the California Hospital Association said: “Affordable CA will help reduce unnecessary construction delays so that hospitals and medical offices can expand capacity…and deliver care more affordably.”
The act would not exempt projects from existing environmental regulations such as CEQA but would set clear timelines for approvals while maintaining public input opportunities. Alex Jackson with American Clean Power – California said: “We’re proud to join such a broad coalition united around building a cleaner, more affordable…California.”
Last week nearly one million signatures were submitted in support of qualifying this initiative for November’s ballot—almost double what was required. The proposed law would apply its streamlined process across various sectors including housing development; water systems; clean energy; transportation; hospitals; schools; broadband expansion; wildfire prevention efforts—all while preserving protections related to environment, labor standards and tribal cultural resources.
The California Chamber of Commerce serves employers across California with statewide representation and influence through advocacy on major legislation—including its Job Killer/Job Creator lists—and provides compliance resources as well as HR tools for member businesses according to its official website.
