Economy

In bid to spur housing construction, Dems rewrite environmental laws

Local government leaders and homebuilders cheered plans in California and New York.
A plot of land that was being developed into multifamily housing is seen in East Northport, N.Y., March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Legislators in two of the bluest states in America are rolling back parts of landmark environmental laws that homebuilders have blamed for construction delays that drive up costs and keep homes in short supply.

New York lawmakers last week finalized a budget agreement that includes reforms to the State Environmental Quality Review Act, a measure passed half a century ago that requires government agencies to consider the environmental impacts of new construction projects.

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