AB 736 proposes the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, authorizing $10 billion in bonds under the State General Obligation Bond Law. These funds will support affordable rental housing and homeownership programs, including the Multifamily Housing Program and CalHome Program. The act will be put to voters on June 2, 2026, and is intended to take immediate effect as an urgency statute.

AB 1567 amends the Planning and Zoning law to allow planning agencies to include the number of units approved for congregate and residential care facilities for the elderly in their annual reports. This bill permits up to 15% of a region’s housing need allocation to be fulfilled through these units across any income category.

AB 1710 redefines the criteria for "ordinances, policies, and standards" within housing development, adding materials, requirements, and standards imposed by other public agencies. It mandates compliance with existing plans and standards at the time of a preliminary application. The bill aligns with the Permit Streamlining Act, requiring projects considered for housing developments or emergency shelters to meet consistency and compliance evaluations. This bill enforces a state-mandated local program impacting all cities, including charter cities, and affects provisions for mandated cost reimbursements to local agencies.

AB 1732 modifies CEQA to exempt certain housing projects linked to public education institutes from evaluation requirements. It emphasizes collaboration with Native American tribes to safeguard cultural sites and mandates agencies to oversee compliance. The act's provisions are set to last until 2037. No state reimbursement is warranted due to specified conditions.

AB 1740 specifies that certain development activities within Santa Monica do not require a coastal development permit as mandated by the California Coastal Act. This exception is designed to promote local development while maintaining statutory oversight until 2037, when these exemptions are scheduled to be repealed.

AB 1751, known as the Missing Middle Townhome Ownership Act, mandates a streamlined ministerial approval process for townhome housing developments that comply with objective planning standards. It allows local agencies to process these without discretionary reviews, expanding exemptions from the CEQA for ministerial projects. The legislation permits local government disapproval only with written findings of specific public health or safety impacts lacking feasible mitigation. The act defines "townhome" as a single-family dwelling less than or equal to three stories and establishes it as a state-mandated local program, exempting San Francisco from its provisions.

AB 1771 requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to assess the effectiveness of the current requirement obligating a manager to reside on the premises of apartment buildings with 16 or more units. The department must report to the Legislature by January 1, 2029, and involve stakeholders in the review process. The provisions of the bill will be repealed on January 1, 2031.

This bill limits cities and counties from mandating building standards exceeding state requirements for projects incorporating factory-built housing, provided 15% of construction costs utilize such housing with Department of Housing certification. It establishes this as a statewide concern applicable across all cities, including charter cities, without state reimbursement obligations.

AB 1857 eliminates enforceability of restrictive covenants barring the use of certain real properties as grocery stores. The bill enables owners to challenge such covenants by recording a modification that voids restrictions preventing grocery store operations on properties where they previously existed and have ceased operations. This legislation facilitates flexibility in commercial property use to better support local needs.

AB 1903 establishes procedures for obtaining certified building status through private inspections and repairs, focusing on condo and townhouse projects starting January 1, 2027. This status limits future challenges and allows builders to manage postconstruction claims. The bill modifies notification and defect claim requirements, emphasizes specified standards for evidence in claims, and revises legal proceedings related to defect claims.

This bill mandates that a housing development project must be approved or denied within 30 days following the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) certification by the lead agency. The Department of Housing and Community Development, in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, will form a working group to advise on speeding up housing development processes. The bill states that no state reimbursement is required for costs imposed on local agencies as mandated by this act.

AB 2002 proposes the creation of the Regional Early Action Planning Fund to support local councils and regional bodies in California. This fund aims to provide one-time grants facilitating housing-related planning activities necessary for addressing future cycles of regional housing needs assessments. The bill empowers these entities to use the funding for developing and implementing housing plans and methodologies while offering technical assistance and resources for updating planning and zoning documents. It allows fund allocations upon legislative approval, with usage strictly for supporting housing planning activities in line with the program’s objectives.

The bill requires the formation of a Coastal Resilience Permitting Working Group, led by the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. This group is tasked with developing a roadmap to streamline permitting processes for coastal resilience projects. By January 1, 2028, this roadmap must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature. Additionally, an advisory group will be formed to aid the working group, ensuring collaboration between state entities and local agencies.

AB 2074 requires that by July 1, 2027, major transit cities establish regional transit hub districts to allow downtown housing developments. These districts will promote ministerial approval for projects meeting certain labor standards. It establishes the Downtown Revitalization Loan Fund to finance these developments, aiming to enhance urban housing and infrastructure integration.

AB 2094 mandates the creation of a dedicated social housing coordinator within the Department of Housing and Community Development to spearhead social housing strategy and implementation. It emphasizes inventorying and prioritizing surplus public land for social housing development. The housing is to be publicly owned and maintained affordable across various income levels. The coordinator must also report findings and recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 2028.

The bill modifies CEQA by mandating environmental impact reports for projects near disadvantaged communities to ensure proper assessment of environmental effects. From 2027, notices must be translated into local threshold languages for inclusive public involvement. It also requires public hearing notices be sent 30 days in advance and includes translation services during hearings.

AB 2185 requires California housing agencies to reassess and potentially amend their rules by July 1, 2027, for multifamily affordable housing programs. The goal is to better accommodate and integrate factory-built housing solutions. This involves the California Housing and Homelessness Agency, California Housing Finance Agency, and related committees focusing on multifamily, farmworker, and veteran housing programs.

AB 2296 amends deadlines related to planning and zoning, specifically streamlining processes for housing element revisions. It extends the formation period for subregional entities from 28 to 34 months and the timeline for regional housing need determinations from 25 to 31 months. The bill mandates that planning agencies communicate compliance requirements and corrective actions with the Department of Housing and Community Development when drafts do not meet housing laws.

AB 2351 mandates updates to general plan reports by local planning agencies to include data on temporary emergency shelter beds and permanent housing for those facing homelessness, starting April 1, 2028. This state-mandated local program, which may require reimbursement, aims to improve transparency and support in homelessness planning efforts.

The bill mandates local coastal governments to devise a sea level rise plan by January 1, 2034. It permits incorporating neighborhood-scale adaptation in the local coastal program, focusing on specific geophysical and land-use characteristics. The purpose is to minimize, mitigate, or avoid coastal impacts through strategic adaptation policies.

AB 2433 amends the Density Bonus Law to streamline the approval process for housing developments that include units for very low, low, and moderate-income households. It expands income definitions and clarifies that density bonuses and related incentives do not require environmental reviews or zoning changes, thereby facilitating faster project approvals across all regions of California.

AB 2525 modifies existing land use regulations by expanding the category of "exempt surplus land" to include Mission Bay Park in San Diego. This permits the city to handle land disposal without adhering to procedures usually required for surplus land, contingent on specific reporting and procedural directives.

AB 2569 proposes amendments to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to broaden its scope by including impacts on individuals in its definitions. It mandates that Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) address potential effects from projects situated near natural hazards or adverse conditions. This addition imposes extra duties on lead agencies, defining new criteria for the evaluation of projects under CEQA, without requiring state reimbursement for the associated costs.

AB 2656 mandates that certain state and local public employers provide written notice to recognized employee organizations before employing generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) for tasks within a job classification's scope. This requirement is a response to support transparency and consultation with employees potentially affected by AI deployment, enhancing collaboration between agencies and their workforces.

SB 417 introduces the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, authorizing the issuance of $10 billion in bonds under the State General Obligation Bond Law. The proceeds will support existing affordable rental and homeownership programs like the Multifamily Housing Program and the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program. This initiative will be presented to voters in the November 3, 2026, statewide general election. This act is designated to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

SB 904 requires the Department of Housing and Community Development, after a wildfire state of emergency, to consult with state and local agencies within ten days to assess rebuilding and recovery needs. Affected agencies must accept electronic submissions for all recovery-related applications to ensure efficiency. The bill mandates development of reports and recommendations on permitting adjustments to support reconstruction efforts. It also requires the state to reimburse local agencies for any mandated costs arising from these new duties, thereby enhancing coordination during disaster recovery efforts.

SB 908 ensures that residential property owners in common interest developments can replace windows with those that comply with California Energy Code. It mandates local governments to approve these changes administratively, bypassing discretionary reviews unless historic resources are involved. This legislation applies across all cities and charter jurisdictions statewide and clarifies that while it imposes new obligations, no reimbursement is required for local implementation.

SB 958 adjusts the California Environmental Quality Act by stating that increased building height alone cannot be considered a significant environmental impact under CEQA if a project satisfies certain conditions. This measure supports urban development and streamlines local planning processes.

SB 967 modifies the Planning and Zoning Law to allow cities and counties that exceed emergency shelter needs and support interim housing for acutely low-income households to report these as part of their approved housing units. The bill permits up to 50% of the regional housing need for such households to be met with interim housing. It also mandates state guidance on reporting housing units not defined by the Census Bureau as official housing units.

SB 996 permits the classification of manufactured homes and mobilehomes as real property for titling and security purposes if certain conditions are fulfilled, such as holding a long-term, transferable occupancy right. This includes compliance with foundation system regulations, authorizing their classification as either chattel or property, and ensuring Department of Housing approval. Additionally, this bill reinforces the need for adherence to updated regulatory frameworks to facilitate these classifications efficiently.

SB 1003 allows cities or counties designated as prohousing to create special infrastructure financing districts, promoting community-beneficial projects such as affordable housing. These districts receive favorable consideration in program applications, supported by a new Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program. Financial aid will be available as loans or grants for qualifying housing developments.

SB 1014 mandates transparency from local agencies who must provide a detailed list of necessary onsite and offsite improvements and their costs to developers within 30 business days of receiving a development application. This bill applies to all Californian cities and counties, ensuring that no additional improvements can be imposed after the initial disclosure.

SB 1016 advances the CARE Court Program, permitting petitioners within the program to request court-ordered mental health evaluations under the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act. This expansion is aimed at better serving individuals with severe mental disorders who might be unwilling to voluntarily participate in the CARE process, ensuring they receive necessary mental health interventions.

SB 1072 revises housing element deadlines for local governments, tying them to regional transportation plan updates. It repeals expired authorities affecting zoning intensification, adjusts definitions related to housing tax credits, and removes some reporting criteria for housing development. The bill updates the administrative framework for federal housing fund allocations by modifying committee naming and jurisdictional duties, aligning tax credits with federal changes for tax-exempt bond-financed housing, and refines notification protocols for housing developments facing contractual changes.

SB 1087 requires regional transportation plans to incorporate an 8-year strategy focusing on sustainable communities. It mandates greenhouse gas reduction targets for transportation sectors and establishes a committee to guide target setting and methodology, enhancing public involvement. The bill aligns emissions targets with achievable regional goals, exempting related planning from environmental review to streamline local agency efforts.

SB 1095 sets restrictions on the involvement of fusion centers in immigration enforcement, mandating that participation requires a memorandum of understanding with local governing bodies. Information shared with federal immigration agencies is limited, and the act requires that memorandums be publicly available online. Beginning in 2029, the Department of Justice will audit participating agencies for compliance. The bill also authorizes state inspections of fusion centers with prior notice.

SB 1116 modifies zoning laws to ensure height restrictions apply only to the physical height of buildings, not the number of floors. It prevents certain setback requirements that could decrease housing density. The bill promotes a liberal application of zoning regulations, prioritizing maximum unit production. Local agencies must report compliance to the Department of Housing and Community Development within 60 days of ordinance adoption. Effective for applications received on or after January 1, 2027, the bill aims to facilitate housing projects amidst urban development.

SB 1122 refines the reporting process for cities and counties with accessory dwelling unit ordinances by requiring them to include ordinance details in their annual progress reports. This aims to improve data transparency and compliance under the Planning and Zoning Law, ensuring detailed ordinance information is consistently reported as part of a state-mandated local program.

SB 1145 exempts land transferred from the federal government to a local reuse authority, such as those related to military base closures, from certain surplus land disposal requirements. It mandates local reuse authorities to include details of residential unit developments in annual reports. Legal challenges to this exemption are limited to within 90 days post-approval of relevant agreements. Additionally, projects like those at Concord Naval Weapons Station that align with pre-reviewed area plans and meet established conditions are considered compliant with the California Environmental Quality Act.

The bill mandates the Public Utilities Commission to establish timelines by 2027 for electrical corporations to process energization requests for accessory and junior accessory dwelling units. Violations of these timelines constitute a state-mandated local program under current law, potentially leading to criminal sanctions. Importantly, no state reimbursement is required for local agency implementation costs.

SB 1258 mandates the State Water Resources Control Board, alongside the Department of Toxic Substances Control, to create guidelines for determining the suitability of remediated hazardous waste sites for residential development. It involves establishing thresholds for contaminants to ensure safety, and sites surpassing these levels are deemed unsuitable for residential purposes.

SB 1297 focuses on forming regional wildfire partnerships, which involve collaborations between public and private entities to improve fire resilience through joint planning and strategies. The bill authorizes revenue bonds for funding and establishes a revolving fund to support these partnerships, enhancing ecosystem health and community preparedness.

SB 1318 requires the California Coastal Commission to approve any permit or amendment related to restricting non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in coastal zones. The legislation aims to meet significant local housing needs by prioritizing the availability of affordable housing for low and moderate-income individuals over visitor accommodation availability.