The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee advanced Assembly Bill 357, a bill intended to accelerate approvals for student and faculty housing projects in California coastal zones by requiring the California Coastal Commission to issue permit decisions within 90 days for certain campus housing actions.

The bill’s author, Assemblymember Alvarez, framed AB 357 as part of a housing package to address student homelessness and the shortage of campus housing. Supporters said campus housing often takes longer to approve than other types of development and that delays contribute to student housing instability. A coalition that included the Student Homes Coalition and university student groups urged approval, noting campuses represent large, organized housing sponsors and that streamlined review could help campuses respond to enrollment-driven housing needs.

Witnesses in opposition and neutral parties included Sustainable Universities Now (SUN) and allied community groups. SUN said it has supported campus housing expansion but asked for careful safeguards; the speaker noted that committee amendments moved the bill closer to an acceptable form by enabling an abbreviated “de minimis” review for long-range development plan amendments. The Coastal Commission did not take an official position in committee testimony noted in the record but has been described elsewhere as engaged in conversations with the author and stakeholders.

Committee members discussed continued collaboration and refinements. Chair Limon thanked participants for negotiations and stressed ongoing work to balance coastal resource protection and housing needs. The committee recorded a motion to pass AB 357 as amended to the Senate Committee on Housing; the bill was left on call with an initial tally entered in committee minutes as 4–0 (left on call for absentee members).

Why it matters: AB 357 seeks to shorten the time between campus-led housing proposals and permitting decisions in coastal jurisdictions. If adopted, it could reduce administrative delay for university housing projects in coastal zones while preserving a pathway for the Coastal Commission’s environmental review, subject to the bill’s precise scope and the committee amendments.

What’s next: AB 357 was advanced as amended to the Senate housing committee; sponsors and opponents said they expect continued negotiations over implementation details, especially how abbreviated review standards will interact with existing local coastal plans and long-range campus plans.