This bill has been hailed a ‘landmark’ victory for California YIMBYs. But it only narrowly escaped defeat
Sen. Scott Wiener’s bill survived more than a dozen amendments and two hostile committee chairs, showcasing both his persistence and divisions among Democrats when it comes to housing
By Kate Talerico
October 3, 2025
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/03/wiener-assembly/
This year, San Francisco Senator Scott Wiener passed a bill that will allow mid-rise housing to be built near transit stops, a win for the pro-housing lawmaker who’d seen two previous attempts collapse before even reaching the Senate floor, blocked by lawmakers concerned about state interference in local land-use decisions.
On multiple occasions this year, Senate Bill 79 just narrowly escaped the same fate — saved only by a bit of legislative maneuvering by Wiener. To get his bill passed, Wiener had to muscle past committee chairs, kept floor votes open while he hunted down stragglers and negotiated over a dozen amendments into the bill to appease lawmakers from areas resistant to development.
Wiener has called SB 79 “landmark” legislation — but it remains to be seen if the bill helps to cement his legacy, or if it will be too weighted down with amendments to be of any practical use to developers, a common criticism of recent housing legislation. The bill is still sitting on Newsom’s desk, and he has yet to give it his signature.
To YIMBY supporters, Wiener’s victory in finally passing the housing-near-transit bill showcased the senior Senator’s growing clout after nearly a decade in the Legislature and his mastery of its processes.
“Wiener is an incredibly effective legislator — part of that is not just about knowing how to negotiate, but also knowing how the process works,” said Matthew Lewis, spokesman for California YIMBY, a pro-housing organization that regularly sponsors Wiener’s bills. “In any game, the players who master all the rules, all the techniques better than everyone else will get the best results.”
Meanwhile, Wiener’s critics say the bill is less the work of a master legislator than one willing to make significant amendments and bend Sacramento norms to get a law across the finish line in the face of heavy opposition, from Republicans and Democrats alike.