BIASC Signals Push for SCAG Reform Following SB 1087 Enactment

The enactment of SB 1087, sponsored by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), has intensified the conflict between regional planners and the building industry. BIASC CEO Jeff Montejano argued that the new requirements—which tie housing development to greenhouse gas reduction and Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) targets—will stifle production and deepen the state's affordability crisis. The association contends that these mandates create unnecessary uncertainty for developers and complicate local planning efforts.

Legal expert Jennifer Hernandez noted that the legislation’s reliance on Sustainable Communities Strategies carries significant weight, as these plans often dictate transportation funding and serve as leverage in land-use litigation. Despite a massive grassroots campaign that generated over 510,000 emails in opposition, the bill moved forward. BIASC is now shifting its strategy to target the governance structure of SCAG itself, calling for a more transparent decision-making process that better reflects the interests of the 191 cities and six counties under its purview.