Each year, AIA California engages deeply in the legislative process to ensure architects have a voice in shaping policies that affect the built environment. In 2026, AIA California took positions on 56 bills spanning housing, climate, and professional practice.
This first installment highlights key legislation focused on housing production, project feasibility, and streamlining—areas where architects are on the front lines of delivering solutions.
You can find the full list of bills AIA CA took positions on here.
Unlocking Housing Through Streamlining and Design Flexibility
AB 1751 (Quirk-Silva) — Missing Middle Townhomes (Support)
AB 1751 allows qualifying townhome projects to be approved ministerially (by right), eliminating discretionary review and significantly reducing delays.
For architects, this means:
Townhomes are one of the most attainable forms of homeownership, and this bill strengthens the pipeline of projects where architects can play a leading role.
AB 1070 (Ward) — Missing Middle Code Reform (Support)
AB 1070 explores allowing 3–10 unit housing developments to be built under the California Residential Code (CRC) rather than the more complex California Building Code (CBC).
The bill directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to convene a working group to study and recommend potential code changes that would better align building standards with the scale and nature of small multifamily housing. It also requires ongoing analysis of how building standards contribute to rising construction costs.
For architects, this bill could have significant implications for the delivery of “missing middle” housing by:
By exploring whether smaller multifamily projects can utilize a more appropriately scaled code framework, AB 1070 aims to reduce unnecessary complexity while maintaining health, safety, and building performance standards.
Making ADUs Easier to Build and Deliver
SB 1117 (Cervantes) — ADU Fee Reform (Support)
SB 1117 reduces impact fees for ADUs by limiting them to only the portion of a unit exceeding 750 square feet.
For architects, this:
SB 1196 (McNerney) — ADU Utility Streamlining (Support)
SB 1196 addresses one of the most persistent barriers to ADU production in California: lengthy utility connection delays.
While California has significantly streamlined ADU permitting in recent years, many projects still face months-long delays waiting for electrical service connections after permits have already been approved.
SB 1196 would require the Public Utilities Commission to establish clear timelines and accountability standards for utility providers processing ADU service requests. The bill also allows utility applications to be submitted concurrently with building permit applications and prevents utilities from canceling applications without applicant consent.
For architects, these reforms improve:
As California continues relying on ADUs as a key housing strategy, SB 1196 helps ensure utility processes keep pace with broader housing streamlining efforts.
Making Projects Pencil: Fees and Incentives
SB 1036 (Grayson) — Mitigation Fee Reform (Support)
SB 1036 ensures development fees reflect only a project’s incremental impact, requiring credit for prior uses on a site.
For architects working on infill and adaptive reuse:
With development fees often accounting for 6–13% of total costs, this reform has meaningful impact.
AB 1265 (Haney) — Historic Tax Credit Expansion & Extension (Co-Sponsor)
AIA California is proud to co-sponsor AB 1265 alongside the California Preservation Foundation.
The bill strengthens and renews California’s Historic Tax Credit program, which is currently set to expire next year. AB 1265:
For architects, this is a high-impact opportunity area:
Historic rehabilitation remains one of California’s most effective tools for simultaneously advancing housing production, economic revitalization, sustainability, and community preservation. Many historic buildings throughout the state remain vacant or underutilized because rehabilitation costs can be prohibitively high. By extending and modernizing the Historic Tax Credit, AB 1265 helps unlock these projects and ensures architects can continue leading complex adaptive reuse efforts that revitalize communities while preserving cultural and architectural heritage.
Why This Matters
These bills share a common theme: making it easier to design and deliver housing in California.
For architects, that translates into:
Next: Be on the lookout for Part 2, where we will explore how AIA California is helping advance legislation to rebalance risk, modernize contracts, and support long-term project delivery.
