California Senate Bill Seeks CEQA Exemption for Midway Rising Project

San Diego, CA, July 24, 2026 —

A legislative effort in California, Senate Bill 958, is advancing through the state senate, proposing an exemption from certain environmental review requirements for the proposed Midway Rising project in San Diego. The bill, authored by Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, seeks to bypass aspects of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) specifically for this development, which is slated to include a 16,000-seat sports arena and housing units.

The primary aim of the proposed exemption is to allow the Midway Rising project to proceed without being constrained by local coastal height restrictions. This provision is a significant component of the bill as it moves through the legislative process.

SB 958 has garnered support from various organizations, including business and housing groups who see the project as beneficial. The bill has already successfully passed through a legislative committee, indicating some level of traction within the senate.

However, the necessity of SB 958 has been a subject of discussion among some observers. Questions have been raised regarding whether existing state housing laws might already provide a pathway for the Midway Rising project to move forward, potentially overcoming height limitations without the need for a specific CEQA exemption.

The passage of this bill is considered a key policy priority for San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, highlighting its importance to the city’s development agenda.

Further details regarding the specific CEQA provisions targeted for exemption and the precise nature of the existing state housing laws in question were not provided. The contractor’s name for the Midway Rising project was also not provided.

Story summarized from the original created by Nadia Lathan on voiceofsandiego.org, see more information here.

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