Advocacy //for immediate release Tibby Rothman, Hon. AIA|LACommunications Director, AIA California (Sacramento, CA. June 5, 2025)  Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, a solution-driven advocate of legislation that successfully address the housing and homelessness crisis, as well as the parallel issue of expanding the state’s safety net, was named Legislator of the Year by the American Institute of Architects California (AIA California). Amongst her achievements benefiting California residents and architects committed to more housing, more quickly built, is AB 2011, the Affordable Housing and High Roads Jobs Act, signed into law in 2022—authored by Assemblymember Wicks. The legislation opens up land for housing construction and simplifies the approval process by allowing residential development projects on commercially zoned properties, such as retail and office spaces, without requiring changes to local zoning laws. “We are fortunate to have Assemblymember Wicks in the legislator and greatly appreciate her as a partner on strategic goals that result in more housing for our state,” said 2025 AIA California President Carina Mills, AIA. “She had and continues to have the courage to tackle the contentious issue of Permit Reform by forming the Select Committee on Permitting Review.” Assemblymember Wicks’ work as chair of the committee resulted in the March 27 “Fast Track Housing” pageage, a suite of more than 20 bills aimed at making housing more affordable by slashing red tape, removing uncertainty, and drastically diminishing the time it takes to get new housing approved and built. AIA California’s Legislator of the Year award was initiated in 2023 to recognize elected officials whose influential policy-making demonstrates the values important to the architectural profession that build a better California. About the American Institute of Architects California (AIA California)AIA California is dedicated to serving its members, and uniting all architecture professionals in the design of a more just, equitable and resilient future through advocacy, education and political action. The organization represents the interests of more than 11,000 architects and allied professionals in California. Founded in 1944, the AIA CA is the largest component of the national AIA organization. For more information, visit www.aiacalifornia.org.

Advocacy

State Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) Named 2025 Legislator of the Year

//for immediate release
Tibby Rothman, Hon. AIA|LA
Communications Director, AIA California


06.05.25

(Sacramento, CA. June 5, 2025)  Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, a solution-driven advocate of legislation that successfully address the housing and homelessness crisis, as well as the parallel issue of expanding the state’s safety net, was named Legislator of the Year by the American Institute of Architects California (AIA California).

Amongst her achievements benefiting California residents and architects committed to more housing, more quickly built, is AB 2011, the Affordable Housing and High Roads Jobs Act, signed into law in 2022—authored by Assemblymember Wicks. The legislation opens up land for housing construction and simplifies the approval process by allowing residential development projects on commercially zoned properties, such as retail and office spaces, without requiring changes to local zoning laws.

“We are fortunate to have Assemblymember Wicks in the legislator and greatly appreciate her as a partner on strategic goals that result in more housing for our state,” said 2025 AIA California President Carina Mills, AIA. “She had and continues to have the courage to tackle the contentious issue of Permit Reform by forming the Select Committee on Permitting Review.”

Assemblymember Wicks’ work as chair of the committee resulted in the March 27 “Fast Track Housing” pageage, a suite of more than 20 bills aimed at making housing more affordable by slashing red tape, removing uncertainty, and drastically diminishing the time it takes to get new housing approved and built.

AIA California’s Legislator of the Year award was initiated in 2023 to recognize elected officials whose influential policy-making demonstrates the values important to the architectural profession that build a better California.

About the American Institute of Architects California (AIA California)
AIA California is dedicated to serving its members, and uniting all architecture professionals in the design of a more just, equitable and resilient future through advocacy, education and political action. The organization represents the interests of more than 11,000 architects and allied professionals in California. Founded in 1944, the AIA CA is the largest component of the national AIA organization. For more information, visit www.aiacalifornia.org.

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