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<ns0:Id>20250AB__200299INT</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-17</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Solache</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Legislator>
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<ns0:Name>Solache</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Chapter 3.16 (commencing with Section 50515.11) to Part 2 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to housing. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>housing</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Local government assistance: Regional Early Action Planning Fund.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each county and each city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and specified land outside its boundaries, that includes, among other specified mandatory elements, a housing element. That law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with each council of governments, to determine the existing and projected need for housing in each region and further requires the appropriate council of governments, or the department for cities and counties without a council of governments, to adopt a final regional housing need plan that allocates a share of the regional housing need to each city, county, or city and county, as provided. Existing law establishes the Local Government Planning Support Grants Program, administered by the department, for the
purpose of providing regions and jurisdictions with one-time funding, including grants for planning activities to enable jurisdictions to meet the sixth cycle of the regional housing need assessment, as provided.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would establish the Regional Early Action Planning Fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of providing councils of governments, regional entities, and jurisdictions with one-time funding, including grants for planning activities, to enable those entities to meet the 7th and subsequent cycles of the regional housing need assessment. The bill would require the department to allocate funds, upon appropriation by the Legislature, from the Regional Early Action Planning Fund to each council of governments or regional entity responsible for allocating regional housing need that applies and qualifies for those moneys, as specified. The bill would authorize a council of governments or regional entity to expend funds awarded for certain purposes,
including for activities that support the development, improvement, or implementation of the methodology for the 7th and subsequent regional housing needs assessment cycles, and for providing jurisdictions with technical assistance, planning, temporary staffing, or consultant needs associated with updating local planning and zoning documents, as provided. The bill would require a jurisdiction that receives a suballocation of funds to only use that suballocation for housing-related planning activities, as provided. The bill would authorize the department to monitor expenditures and activities of an applicant, as the department deems necessary, to ensure compliance with program requirements.</html:p>
<html:p>Existing law, the Administrative Procedure Act, sets forth the requirements for the adoption, publication, review, and implementation of regulations by state agencies.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require the department to issue guidelines to
implement the above-described provisions and would exempt those guidelines from the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Chapter 3.16 (commencing with Section 50515.11) is added to Part 2 of Division 31 of the
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, to read:
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<ns0:LawHeading type="CHAPTER" id="id_5CCFFFB1-EAC7-43BC-AF7E-3CFFF703540C">
<ns0:Num>3.16.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>Regional Early Action Planning</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>50515.11.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>The Legislature finds and declares the following:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The regional housing needs assessment (RHNA) is a core component of the state’s housing planning framework and establishes the basis for local housing element law obligations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Regional governments perform essential functions in implementing RHNA, including methodology development, public engagement, and distributing regional housing need to local jurisdictions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
RHNA responsibilities have increased in complexity and scope, and regional governments require consistent and adequate resources to fulfill these responsibilities.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Funding provided through the Local Government Planning Support Grants Program (Chapter 3.1 (commencing with Section 50515)) demonstrated that targeted investments in regional planning activities support local housing element implementation and advance state housing goals.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
It is the intent of the Legislature to provide councils of governments, regional entities, and jurisdictions with resources to support the seventh and subsequent RHNA cycles.
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<ns0:Num>50515.12.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>For purposes of this article:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Council of governments” means a single-county or multicounty council created pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code that is responsible for allocating regional housing need under Sections 65584, 65584.04, and 65584.05 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Jurisdiction” means a city, county, or city and county.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Regional entity” means a regional government that is not a council of government that is responsible for allocating regional housing need pursuant to Sections 65584, 65584.04, and 65584.05 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Regional housing need assessment” or “RHNA” means the existing and projected need for housing for each region, as determined by the department pursuant to Section 65584.01 of the Government Code.
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<ns0:Num>50515.13.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Regional Early Action Planning Fund is hereby established in the State Treasury for the purpose of providing councils of governments, regional entities, and jurisdictions with one-time funding, including grants for planning activities to enable those entities to meet the seventh and subsequent cycles of the regional housing need assessment.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Upon appropriation by the Legislature, moneys in the fund shall be made available to the department for allocation in accordance with this chapter.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_7512F0C3-0665-4F2A-B295-D52488299F7C">
<ns0:Num>50515.14.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department shall allocate funds from the Regional Early Action Planning Fund to each council of governments or regional entity responsible for allocating regional housing need, pursuant to Sections 65584, 65584.04, and 65584.05 of the Government Code, in accordance with this section.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A council of governments or regional entity may apply for funds, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, beginning 39 months prior to the next applicable housing element due date pursuant to Section 65588 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Funds shall be distributed by the department on a population basis based on the most recent population estimates posted on the Department of
Finance’s internet website.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An application shall include, at minimum and in a form and manner prescribed by the department, all of the following information:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An allocation budget for the funds provided pursuant to this section.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Amounts to be retained by the council of governments or regional entity, and any suballocations to jurisdictions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An explanation of how proposed uses will increase housing planning and facilitate local housing production.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Identification of current best practices at the regional and statewide level that promote sufficient supply of housing affordable to all income levels, and a strategy for increasing adoption of these practices at the regional
level, where viable.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
An education and outreach strategy to inform jurisdictions of the need and benefits of taking early action related to housing need, as quantified by the regional housing need assessment.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department shall review an application submitted pursuant to this section within 30 days, otherwise the application shall be deemed approved. Upon approval of an application for funds pursuant to this section, the department shall award the moneys for which the council of governments or regional entity, as applicable, qualify.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_0852C7CC-6574-4B7C-B73F-E0FEC232525B">
<ns0:Num>50515.15.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A council of governments or regional entity may expend funds awarded pursuant to Section 50515.14 for any of the following purposes:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Activities that support the development, improvement, or implementation of the methodology for the seventh and subsequent RHNA cycles, to further the objectives described in subdivision (d) of Section 65584 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Suballocating moneys directly and equitably to jurisdictions in the form of grants for planning that will accommodate the development of housing and infrastructure that accelerates housing production in a way that aligns with state planning priorities, and housing, transportation, equity, and climate
goals.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Providing jurisdictions with technical assistance, planning, temporary staffing, or consultant needs associated with updating local planning and zoning documents, including any activity related to updating or implementing a jurisdiction’s housing element, expediting application processing, and other actions to accelerate additional housing production.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Administrative costs necessary to implement this section, which may be up to 5 percent of an entity’s total award.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Activities to establish a regional or countywide housing trust, or to allocate a portion of funds to an existing regional or countywide housing trust, for the purpose of supporting planning, predevelopment, or other activities that facilitate the production of housing consistent with this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Activities, determined in consultation with the department, that support regional or local housing planning priorities consistent with this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A jurisdiction that receives a suballocation of funds pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall only use that suballocation for housing-related planning activities, including, but not limited to, the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Technical assistance in improving housing permitting processes, tracking systems, and planning tools.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Establishing regional or countywide housing trust funds for affordable housing.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Performing infrastructure planning, including for sewers, water systems, transit, roads, or other public facilities necessary to
support new housing and new residents.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Performing feasibility studies to determine the most efficient locations to site housing consistent with Sections 65041.1 and 65080 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Covering the costs of temporary staffing or consultant needs associated with the activities described in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (a).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A council of governments or regional entity receiving funds shall submit annual reports to the department in a form and manner prescribed by the department. The reports shall include information on expenditures and suballocations to jurisdictions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A council of governments or regional entity shall submit a final report to the department upon expenditure of all funds, or as otherwise required
by the department. The final report shall include information on outcomes achieved, including the corresponding impact on housing within the region.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department may publish a summary of information received pursuant to this section on its internet website.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department may monitor expenditures and activities of an applicant, as the department deems necessary, to ensure compliance with program requirements.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department shall issue guidelines to implement this chapter. The adoption, amendment, or repeal of guidelines authorized by this subdivision is hereby exempted from the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
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