More than 100 organizations across California have joined a coalition supporting the Building an Affordable California Act, according to a May 6 announcement. The measure aims to reduce project approval times and costs for essential housing and infrastructure by streamlining regulations.
The coalition includes civil rights leaders, healthcare providers, affordable housing advocates, clean energy builders, water suppliers, agricultural groups, and small business organizations. Supporters say the initiative is designed to make California more affordable by enabling faster delivery of critical projects.
“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.”
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 from the California Council for Affordable Housing said: “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 added: “Affordable CA will help reduce unnecessary construction delays so that hospitals and medical offices can expand capacity…and deliver care more affordably.”
The act does not exempt projects from environmental review under CEQA but seeks to modernize approval processes with clear timelines while maintaining strong environmental protections. Alex Jackson from American Clean Power – California said: “The Building an Affordable California Act is a major opportunity for California to accelerate clean energy…We’re proud to join such a broad coalition united around building a cleaner, more affordable…California.”
Supporters recently submitted nearly one million signatures in support of qualifying the measure for inclusion on the November 2026 ballot—almost double what was required. The act would affect permitting processes for various sectors including housing developments; water systems; clean energy; transportation; hospitals; schools; broadband expansion; wildfire prevention—all while preserving labor standards and tribal cultural resource protections.
The California Chamber of Commerce serves employers across California with statewide representation and influence. It seeks to create a positive business environment promoting job creation and economic growth in addition to providing compliance resources for its members.
