The state passed a law protecting the species after the Fish & Game Commission deadlocked on listing it. Critics say the mitigation fee of $300 to $2,500 per plant will make housing projects infeasible.

Insurance in wildfire areas is becoming harder to get -- which should be a good thing for the state's growth management policies. But it's getting in the way of meeting the state's housing targets.

The state's environmental agencies may be insulated from the new ruling stripping federal administrative agencies of power -- and they're picking up the slack. But do they have the capacity and expertise to do the job?

Affordability is tightened up slightly but allowable density is reduced. Plus, West Hollywood believes it's so prohousing it will seek legislation exempting it from the builder's remedy.

But Newsom's cuts -- and the reorganization proposal -- are being opposed by legislative leaders.

A "technical year" in Sacramento is yielding a wide variety of small changes in the major housing bills over the past several years.

The backers of the controversial new city "California Forever" -- now branded the East Solano Plan -- have submitted signatures for a November ballot measure. It faces long odds.

The state recently approved Beverly Hills' housing element, bringing a contentious situation to a close. Most other housing elements have also been approved and the state is negotiating with the remaining cities and counties to reach agreement.

Combination of legislation and administrative changes would expand state housing agency's oversight and power over local government housing elements in many significant ways.

All four of California's largest cities -- L.A., San Francisco, San Diego, and San Jose -- have taken steps to dramatically expedite housing projects, especially affordable housing projects.

The staff recommended upzoning half the the city, excluding the fire-prone Berkeley Hills. But the planning commission has recommended rezoning all of Berkeley including the hills.

New legislation would try to give both cities and developers something they want, while putting guardrails on builder's remedy projects. Meanwhile, HCD revoked Portola Valley's housing element approval.