Social Housing Strategy and Implementation Program., the official text

An act to add Part 19 (commencing with Section 54915) to Division 31 of, and to repeal Section 54918 of, the Health and Safety Code, relating to housing.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the Department of Housing and Community Development (department) and, pursuant to the Governor’s Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 2025, which became effective on July 5, 2025, transfers the department to the California Housing and Homelessness Agency, effective July 1, 2026, for purposes of carrying out state housing policies and programs. Existing law, commonly referred to as the Surplus Land Act, prescribes requirements for the disposal of surplus land by a local agency, as defined, and requires, except as provided, a local agency disposing of surplus land to comply with certain notice requirements before disposing of the land or participating in negotiations to dispose of the land with a prospective transferee. As part of these procedures, existing law requires that the local agency send a notice of availability to housing sponsors, as defined, that have notified the department of their interest in surplus land, as specified.
This bill would require the department to establish a dedicated social housing coordinator to lead social housing strategy and implementation. In leading social housing strategy and implementation, the bill would require the dedicated social housing coordinator to, among other things, inventory and prioritize surplus public land suitable for social housing development. The bill would define “social housing development” as housing developed pursuant to the bill’s provisions that is owned by a public entity, provides housing affordable to a mix of household income levels, and preserves long-term affordability. The bill would require the dedicated social housing coordinator to compile findings for social housing strategy and implementation, as specified, and post the findings on the department’s internet website. The bill would require the department, by January 1, 2028, to submit a report to the Legislature with actionable recommendations based on the social housing strategy and implementation program findings, as described above.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) California continues to face a severe housing shortage across all income levels.
(b) Public agencies own surplus land that can be repurposed to address housing needs.
(c) Development of housing by the Department of Housing and Community Development can reduce costs, accelerate production, and ensure long-term affordability.
(d) A Social Housing Strategy and Implementation Program will allow the state to evaluate best practices for publicly sponsored housing development.

SEC. 2.
Part 19 (commencing with Section 54915) is added to Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:
19.
SOCIAL HOUSING STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM54915.
This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the Social Housing Strategy and Implementation Program.

54916.
For purposes of this part, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) “Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development.
(b) “Household income levels” includes all of the following:
(1) Acutely low income households, as defined in Section 50063.5.
(2) Extremely low income households, as defined in Section 50106.
(3) Persons and families of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093.
(4) Very low income households, as defined in Section 50105.
(c) “Social housing development” means housing developed pursuant to this part that satisfies all of the following:
(1) Is owned by a public entity.
(2) Provides housing for rent that is affordable to a mix of household income levels.
(3) Preserves long-term affordability.

54917.
(a) The department shall establish a dedicated social housing coordinator within the department to lead social housing strategy and implementation.
(b) In leading social housing strategy and implementation, the dedicated social housing coordinator shall do all of the following:
(1) Produce a statewide scaling plan that includes units, funding, and timelines for social housing development.
(2) Inventory and prioritize surplus public land suitable for social housing development.
(3) Identify barriers to social housing development beyond funding.
(4) Outline financing options and potential funding sources for social housing development.
(5) Include clear benchmarks and timelines for developing social housing.
(c) The dedicated social housing coordinator shall compile its findings for social housing strategy and implementation pursuant to subdivision (b) and post the findings on the department’s internet website.

54918.
(a) By January 1, 2028, the department shall submit a report to the Legislature with actionable recommendations based on the Social Housing Strategy and Implementation Program findings pursuant to Section 54917.
(b) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on January 1, 2032.