California has recently approved significant changes to its landmark environmental law, CEQA, aimed at expediting housing construction and addressing affordability issues. With Governor Newsom signing key reforms, one of the biggest challenges to building new housing has now been removed, allowing for more projects to proceed without the previous bureaucratic hindrances. Lawmakers believe that these reforms are crucial for the state budget and long-term economic stability. However, critics, including environmentalists and labor groups, have raised concerns that these rollbacks may harm communities and undermine environmental protections. The ongoing debate over CEQA reform highlights the balance California seeks to strike between development and sustainability.