AB-357
Natural Resources & Water

Coastal resources: coastal development permit application: higher education housing project.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
1
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Requires the Coastal Commission to approve or deny higher education housing permits within 90 days.
  • Allows timeline extensions if projects change significantly or natural disasters affect environmental conditions.
  • Applies specifically to student, faculty, and staff housing projects in coastal zones.

Summary

Assembly Member Alvarez's coastal development permit legislation establishes new processing timelines for higher education housing projects within California's coastal zones. The measure requires the California Coastal Commission to approve or deny complete permit applications for student, faculty, and staff housing developments within 90 days of submission.

The bill allows timeline extensions in two specific scenarios: when universities propose substantial project changes that could create new environmental impacts or increase previously identified effects, or when natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, or sea level rise alter the environmental circumstances surrounding the project. These provisions maintain the Commission's ability to conduct thorough environmental reviews when conditions warrant additional scrutiny.

Under current law, while the Coastal Act requires permits for all coastal zone development, no specific decision timeline exists for the Commission's review process. This addition to the Public Resources Code creates a defined approval window specifically for higher education housing projects while preserving flexibility for complex cases requiring extended evaluation.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 357 Alvarez Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 6 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assemblymember
Bill Author

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

David Alvarez
David AlvarezD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/5/2025)

Latest Voting History

June 5, 2025
PASS
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
760379PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Requires the Coastal Commission to approve or deny higher education housing permits within 90 days.
  • Allows timeline extensions if projects change significantly or natural disasters affect environmental conditions.
  • Applies specifically to student, faculty, and staff housing projects in coastal zones.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

David Alvarez
David AlvarezD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Alvarez's coastal development permit legislation establishes new processing timelines for higher education housing projects within California's coastal zones. The measure requires the California Coastal Commission to approve or deny complete permit applications for student, faculty, and staff housing developments within 90 days of submission.

The bill allows timeline extensions in two specific scenarios: when universities propose substantial project changes that could create new environmental impacts or increase previously identified effects, or when natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, or sea level rise alter the environmental circumstances surrounding the project. These provisions maintain the Commission's ability to conduct thorough environmental reviews when conditions warrant additional scrutiny.

Under current law, while the Coastal Act requires permits for all coastal zone development, no specific decision timeline exists for the Commission's review process. This addition to the Public Resources Code creates a defined approval window specifically for higher education housing projects while preserving flexibility for complex cases requiring extended evaluation.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/5/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Rules
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 357 Alvarez Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Natural Resources Hearing
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

June 5, 2025
PASS
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
760379PASS

Contacts

Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 6 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Shannon GroveR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Brian JonesR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Mike McGuireD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Eloise ReyesD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
John LairdD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
David AlvarezD
Assemblymember
Bill Author