The State of California

Landmark Ruling Could Reshape California's Coastal Future: Court Sides with Commission on Seawall Restrictions In a decision that could reshape California's coastline, a state appeals court has tentatively ruled that thousands of coastal homeowners may lose their right to build protective seawalls against rising seas. The ruling, centered on a dispute in Half Moon Bay, supports the California Coastal Commission's position that only buildings constructed before 1977 are entitled to new seawall permits. The case began when the Casa Mira townhomes, built in 1984, lost 20 feet of protective bluffs during a 2016 storm. When the homeowners sought to construct a permanent 257-foot concrete seawall, the Coastal Commission denied their request, sparking a legal battle that has drawn attention from environmental groups, developers, and coastal communities across the state. While a lower court initially sided with the property owners, the First District Court of Appeal in...

PALM DESERT, CA – The Assembly Select Committee on Permitting Reform, chaired by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), convened a hearing and tour today to address the barriers posed by California’s outdated permitting processes to clean energy infrastructure development. California Lawmakers Push to Overhaul "Slow and Outdated" Permitting Process California legislature's ambitious climate and housing goals are stuck in a regulatory morass of their own making in the state's complex and time-consuming permitting process. Led by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), the Assembly Select Committee on Permitting Reform is conducting a comprehensive review of the state's regulatory framework, aiming to streamline approvals for critical infrastructure projects while maintaining environmental protections. The urgency for reform comes as California faces multiple interconnected crises. The state aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 and desper...