Late Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two major bills to change one of the state’s oldest and most powerful environmental laws. The measures are designed to make it easier to build more housing in a state that has some of worst shortages and highest prices in America.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers scaled back a law that was vilified for its role in California’s housing shortage and homelessness crisis.

California lawmakers have rolled back portions of a landmark state environment law to make it easier to build new housing in urban areas.