Prop 45: Will California Vote to Trade Environmental Regulation for Quicker Housing Development?
In an aerial view, homes are seen under construction at a new housing development on July 1, 2025, in Richmond, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Airdate: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 10 AM
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which requires most proposed public and private development projects to go through a thorough environmental impact review process, has long been blamed for slowing or stopping the development of new construction in the state. This November, Californians will vote on Proposition 45, which attempts to streamline CEQA review for certain “essential” projects. We’ll look at how changes could impact housing, data centers and more.
Guests:
- Ethan Elkind, director of the Climate Program at the Center for Law, Energy and the Environment, UC Berkeley School of Law; podcast host, Climate Break
- Jason Elliott, president, Versus Solutions; former deputy chief of staff to Governor Gavin Newsom, helped craft Prop 45
- Jordan Grimes, legislative director, Greenbelt Alliance