To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Natalie Arroyo
Agenda Section: Initiated by Board Member
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:title
Letter of Opposition to California Assembly Bill 306 (Schultz) Regarding Preemption of Local Building Code Updates and Climate Action Measuresend
RECOMMENDATION(S):Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the attached letter of opposition to California Assembly Bill 306 (Schultz) regarding preemption of local building code updates and climate action measures; and
2. Authorize staff to continue advocacy on this issue and submitting letters of support throughout the life of California Assembly Bill 306 (Schultz); and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to send the attached letter of opposition to California Assembly Bill 306 (Schultz) to the Chair of the Senate Committee on Housing and the Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors' Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Sustainable Natural Resources & Infrastructure Stewardship
Strategic Plan Category: 5001 - Enhance climate adaptation landscapes and communities
DISCUSSION:
California Assembly Bill 306 ("AB 306") proposes to prohibit local governments from enforcing or adopting ordinances that impose requirements on new residential construction beyond the California Building Standards Code, as it exists on January 1, 2025. The bill aims to promote housing development by freezing additional local building-related regulations.
The County of Humboldt is actively developing ordinances under the Regional Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate resilience. Several of these ordinances, while not formally part of the Building Code, are intended to apply to new construction and could be jeopardized by AB 306.
While AB 306 may not directly override existing climate policies, its langua...
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