Governor Signs Bill to Modernize Landmark Planning Law

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed state Senate Bill 1087 to accelerate progress on state climate, housing and transportation goals by modernizing California's requirements for integrated regional planning. The bill streamlines the development of Sustainable Communities Strategies so metropolitan planning organizations can focus more of their resources on delivering climate-friendly transportation and housing options. SB 1087 also extends regional plans’ targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through 2045 to match the state’s Climate Change Scoping Plan and requires specific state programs to focus funding on transportation projects aligned with the regional plans.

"How and where we grow shapes the long-term demands on infrastructure, natural resources and public services," wrote Gov. Newsom in a signing message that accompanied enactment of SB 1087. "California's future depends on our ability to grow, build and meet our climate goals together. SB 1087 provides a stronger framework to do exactly that."

Authored by North Bay senator Christopher Cabaldon and co-sponsored by MTC and the Association of Bay Area Governments as well as the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, the San Diego Association of Governments and the Southern California Association of Governments, SB 1087 reflects the experience gained by regional agencies in the 18 years since enactment of the landmark SB 375, which required California metro areas to create Sustainable Communities Strategies that integrate land uses and transportation networks to cut GHG emissions from cars and light trucks.

Senator Cabaldon and the four co-sponsors shepherded SB 1087 through a complicated and contentious legislative process that began last fall with large stakeholder convenings. Some 30 to 50 organizations met monthly to share their goals for the modernization effort and debate policy approaches. These meetings were facilitated by former state Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, who authored SB 375 in 2008. 

“SB 1087 is part of Governor Newsom’s climate legacy,” said MTC and ABAG executive director Andrew Fremier. “We’re proud of our role in its creation and passage, and we’re grateful to Senator Cabaldon for spearheading this ambitious legislation and to our co-sponsors for bringing their expertise and partnership to the effort.”

Ultimately, more than 80 groups supported SB 1087, including cities; county transportation agencies; environmental organizations such as ClimatePlan, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Coalition for Clean Air; business associations such as the Sacramento Metro Chamber and the California Asian-Pacific Chamber of Commerce; and housing advocates such as YIMBY Action and Enterprise Community Partners.