Legislative Outcomes
Habitat California works alongside our statewide network of affiliates to advance policies that expand affordable homeownership, strengthen Habitat’s work, and remove barriers for the families and communities we serve. The legislation below represents bills sponsored or supported by Habitat California that were passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor - important policy victories made possible through persistent advocacy, strong partnerships, and the collective voice of the Habitat network.
2023 Legislative Session
These legislative achievements reflect Habitat California’s ongoing work to advance policies that strengthen affordable homeownership and create greater opportunity for Californians. Each victory is the result of collaboration, determination, and a statewide Habitat network committed to making its voice heard.
AB 281 (Grayson) Postentitlement phase permits
This bill requires a special district that receives an application from a housing development project for service from a special district or an application from a housing development project for a postentitlement phase permit to provide written notice to the applicant of next steps within 30 days (25 units or fewer) or 60 days (26 units or more).
AB 323 (Holden) Density Bonus Law
This bill protects a path for low- and moderate-income families to realize their dream of homeownership and obtain housing stability by ensuring California's housing laws and programs are used as intended instead of funneling these properties to investors.
AB 671 (Ward) CalHome and ADUs
This bill requires the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to allow a community land trust to purchase residential property and construct accessory dwelling units to provide more affordable housing properties in perpetuity.
AB 1308 (Quirk-Silva) Parking requirements
This bill prohibits a public agency from imposing new minimum parking requitements in a project remodel, renovation, or add on.
AB 1474 (Reyes) Veterans in the state housing strategy
This bill adds veterans to the list of population groups included in the strategies of the California Statewide Housing Plan.
AB 1508 (Ramos) CA Statewide Housing Plan
This bill requires the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to incorporate analyses of first-time homebuyer assistance programs and recommendations in its state housing plan to increase first-time homebuyer attainment rates, especially amongst minority communities.
AB 1633 (Ting) CEQA bad actors
This bill ends inappropriate abuse of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by jurisdictions that attempt to block new housing developments that have already been found in compliance with land use and environmental requirements
SB 4 (Wiener) Housing at higher education and religious institutions
This bill provides a streamlined process for religious organizations and nonprofit higher education institutions to develop affordable housing on property they own.
SB 423 (Wiener) SB 35 and streamlined housing approval
SB 35 (2017) was scheduled to sunset in 2026 and has produced thousands of affordable units in California. This bill extends the provisions of SB 35 through 2036 and expands them to encourage mixed-income housing developments.
SB 684 (Caballero) Streamlined development approvals
This bill streamlines approvals for homes in infill developments of 10 homes or less in multi-family zones. It also amends the Subdivision Map Act to streamline approvals for more housing on a single parcel.
ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry) Affordable housing and public infrastructure financing
This Assembly Constitutional Amendment would lower the voter threshold from a two-thirds majority to a 55% majority to approve local bonds and certain special taxes for affordable housing, public infrastructure, downpayment assistance, and permanent supportive housing projects. It was approved by the Legislature and presented to the voters of California in the November 2024 election as Proposition 5. The measure was not successful.
