Advocacy in Action – Housing, Streamlining, and Architectural Opportunity

//byline Scott Terrell, Director of Government Relations, AIA California Earlier this legislative session, AIA California’s Board of Directors took positions on 61 bills impacting the architectural profession and the broader built environment. In this two-part blog series, we’re offering a closer look at a selection of the most impactful bills AIA California has engaged with this year. While Part 2 will focus on disaster recovery, resilience, and climate policy, Part 1 highlights six priority measures that tackle key issues at the intersection of housing production, permitting reform, and architectural leadership: As outlined in our initial advocacy update, these positions followed an in-depth process that combined analysis by our legislative review team and input from subject matter experts across the state. This process ensures that the positions we take reflect both architects’ on-the-ground experience and our strategic vision for the profession’s role in addressing California’s most pressing challenges. Below please find information and background on the six priority measures the Board took positions. Adaptive Reuse AB 507  – Support AB 507 (Haney) aims to significantly streamline and incentivize adaptive reuse—the conversion of underutilized commercial buildings, such as offices, into housing—by making these projects by-right in all zoning districts, subject to ministerial (non-discretionary) approval. The bill applies to buildings under 50 years old or those that meet historic preservation standards, and it sets affordability requirements for both rental and ownership projects. AB 507 eliminates parking mandates, allows flexible development on adjacent underused land, and exempts projects from CEQA, reducing costs and delays. Cities retain limited control through local ordinances but cannot prohibit qualifying projects. The American Institute of Architects California supports AB 507, recognizing it as a critical step to enable more adaptive reuse projects, particularly in historic downtowns, by reducing permitting barriers, increasing design flexibility, and encouraging creative housing solutions in existing structures. Building Codes AB 306 – Oppose Unless Amended AB 306 (Schultz) proposes a temporary freeze—from June 1, 2025, to June 1, 2031—on changes to residential building standards by cities, counties, and state agencies unless such changes are deemed emergency measures necessary to protect health and safety. This would halt local amendments to residential codes and suspend the state’s normal 18-month building standards update cycle for residential units. While the bill is intended to create consistency and reduce construction costs, AIA California has taken an “Oppose Unless Amended” position, advocating that the pause apply only to the California Residential Code (CRC). This bill is significant because it could restrict opportunities to update or improve standards related to housing design, sustainability, or resilience for six years. However, AIA CA sees potential benefits in a targeted pause on CRC updates only, given the code’s current stability and the practical advantages of consistency for small-scale builders, fire rebuilds, ADUs, and inspectors, so long as other critical building codes remain responsive and adaptable. Historic Tax Credit AB 1265 – Support AB 1265 seeks to renew and strengthen California’s Historic Tax Credit program, offering a 20% state tax credit for the rehabilitation of certified historic buildings, with an additional 10% incentive for projects that preserve existing affordable housing or convert historic structures into new housing through adaptive reuse. For architects, this bill is especially important as it supports the revitalization of underutilized historic buildings, encourages housing production, and promotes sustainable, community-centered design. By lowering the financial barriers to preservation and reuse, AB 1265 opens new opportunities for architects to lead projects that blend history with innovation, support climate resilience, and enhance the character of California’s neighborhoods. AIA California supports this effort as a smart, design-forward solution that aligns with economic, environmental, and housing goals. Expansion of California Residential Code (CBC) AB 6  – Support AB 6 (Ward) proposes evaluating whether small-scale “missing middle” housing developments—those with 3 to 10 units—can be built under the California Residential Code (CRC) rather than the more complex and costly California Building Code (CBC). It also requires the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to analyze how current building codes contribute to rising construction costs. The American Institute of Architects California (AIA CA) supports the bill, recognizing that extending CRC standards to these smaller multi-unit projects could reduce permitting time, lower construction costs, and eliminate inconsistent code interpretations, particularly for townhouse developments. AB 6 opens a pathway to more flexible, cost-effective design and development of small-scale housing, aligning code requirements more closely with building type and scale. Passive Housing Standards AB 368 – Support AB 368 (Ward) directs the California Energy Commission to evaluate and potentially adopt Passive House (PH) energy efficiency standards as an alternative compliance pathway to the state’s existing Title 24 building energy standards. Passive House design—focused on airtight envelopes, superior insulation, high-efficiency windows, and mechanical ventilation—can cut heating/cooling energy use by up to 50% while improving indoor air quality and climate resilience. If adopted, AB 368 would offer architects a codified and cost-effective route to build more energy-efficient, resilient, and sustainable homes and buildings, aligning with California’s decarbonization goals and expanding design opportunities for cutting-edge, environmentally responsible projects. The above bills reflect the broad influence architects can have in shaping communities—from reducing housing barriers to leading in sustainable, cost-effective, and equitable design. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll examine how architects can help drive resilience, recovery, and climate action through smart policy.

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