SB 1156 Summary

• Establishes the Sustainable Communities Investment Authority (SCIA) program, enabling public entities to form authorities that can use tax increment revenue to support economic development in transit priority project areas, small walkable communities, and clean energy manufacturing sites.

• Requires SCIA governing boards to adopt Sustainable Communities Investment Plans that include sustainable parking standards ordinances, jobs plans requiring prevailing wages and community outreach, and provisions dedicating at least 20 percent of tax increment revenue to affordable housing.

• Mandates that entities receiving over $1,000,000 from an SCIA complete financial prequalification questionnaires, and requires the Department of Industrial Relations to monitor prevailing wage compliance on SCIA-funded projects.

• Authorizes tax increment revenue allocation from participating cities, counties, and special districts, excluding school district revenues, and requires independent financial and performance audits every five years.

• Amends the Public Resources Code to streamline environmental review for infill projects consistent with sustainable communities strategies or small walkable community designations that meet statewide performance standards.