Building new housing is a priority across the state, especially in fire ravaged areas of Southern California. But now a growing number of environmental groups say they want to make sure that future construction isn’t putting communities at risk from climate change. They’re pointing to a provision in a recently passed budget bill, AB 306, which could essentially freeze new residential building regulations for the next six years and bars cities and counties from adopting stricter codes. David Lewis is executive director of the nonprofit Save the Bay. His group is concerned that the bill will slow climate resiliency efforts, including upgrades meant to protect communities from flooding and other effects of sea level rise.

Other sea level rise and climate impact news:

• RWC Pulse (Redwood City, Calif.): As the Bay Area’s salt pond restoration project moves forward, a tiny threatened shorebird remains under the watchful eye of biologists