The Homework Newsletter

California YIMBY-sponsored bills lowering costs on ADUs and streamlining starter homes advance, a study found inclusionary zoning cuts homebuilding 32%, and California sued 5 cities for violating state housing laws.

Austin adds 120,000 homes and rents go down. Data from New York and Philadelphia shows upzoning leads to more housing production.

Many of our 2026 bills pass their policy committees! Building more apartments is good for the planet, and we explore one reason public transit is more expensive in the U.S. than Europe.

Here’s how many of our 2026 primary endorsements fared. We also show that sprawl costs households a lot of money, but compact urban development saves money.

The 2026 legislative session is in full swing, and so is our legislative agenda. We also look at the costs of sprawling into fire zones, and show how apartment bans raise your rent.

We’re gearing up for the April 24 policy committee deadline. We’re also looking at how Measure ULA is backfiring, and how we can build half a million apartments a year. (We’ve done it before!)

We celebrate an SB 684 and SB 1123 success. We also look at how housing policy is climate policy, and show the high costs of LA’s long wait for building permits.

Our 2026 legislative package is nearly complete! We also shine a light on the black box of building codes, and look at the financial burden of local impact fees.

Here’s a preview of our 2026 legislative agenda. We also look at how the housing shortage punishes the poor, and how California’s transportation policies have undermined climate progress.

Rising housing costs may be responsible for a baby bust, and Americans are willing to pay more for apartments with more bedrooms.