To effectively address California’s housing crisis, the state must simply build more places to live. In fact, the Department of Housing and Community Development says about 180,000 units need to be added every year to keep up with housing demand. Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) has four bills taking effect next month that aims to increase the housing supply.
The most impactful may be the strengthening the state’s Housing Accountability Act (HAA) under AB 1633, which clarifies that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) cannot be used to endlessly delay or block housing projects, once all legal requirements have been met. The legislation does not alter CEQA in any way and will promote climate-friendly infill housing.
“We cannot afford to keep projects in limbo after they have already gone through the mandatory environmental review. This new law puts plans on a faster track to completion and will help ease the housing shortage that keeps prices high and families out of homes,” said Ting.
In another step to help housing production, Ting’s AB 480 updates the Surplus Lands Act by reducing red tape and encouraging local governments to make public land available for affordable housing development. A less burdensome process will likely attract more developers.
To continue California’s “backyard revolution” that has seen a surge in the addition of cottages, tiny homes, or casitas behind existing homes – known as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Ting championed two bills: AB 976, which no longer requires ADUs to be owner-occupied; and AB 1033, which opens the door to affordable homeownership by allowing ADUs to be sold as condominiums.
Other noteworthy legislation by Ting taking effect on January 1, 2024:
- AB 264: Allows community colleges to observe Lunar New Year as a state holiday
- AB 579: Directs school districts to purchase or lease school buses that are zero-emission starting in 2035; rural districts have up to an additional ten years to comply
- AB 783: Requires local governments to notify business license applicants that single-user restrooms must be identified as all-gender
- AB 1200 (from 2022): Mandates cookware to be labeled if it’s made with PFAS, a class of harmful chemicals that could cause health problems