Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law a bill that will remake California’s landmark environmental protection rules.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers scaled back a law that was vilified for its role in California’s housing shortage and homelessness crisis.

The new housing legislation effectively weakens the California Environmental Quality Act, known as CEQA, allowing for some housing projects to sidestep the landmark law which critics said allowed neighbors to block building projects in their community they did not like.