Bill > SB507

This bill allows local governments within the same county as a Native American tribe to voluntarily enter into agreements that enable new tribal housing developments to count toward the locality's regional housing needs allocation (RHNA). Specifically, the agreement can be made if the local government has permitting authority over the site, the housing development is located within or contiguous to the local government's boundaries, and the housing units meet U.S. Census Bureau definitions. The bill prohibits local governments from requiring tribes to waive their sovereign immunity as a condition of such an agreement. The legislation defines key terms like "tribal housing development" and "tribe," and provides that housing developments on land held in fee simple by a tribe or held in trust by the United States can qualify. The bill also encourages the Department of Housing and Community Development to approve tribal housing units as part of a locality's RHNA when certain conditions are met. Importantly, the Legislature declares that addressing housing affordability is a statewide concern, and therefore these provisions apply to all cities, including charter cities, with the goal of creating more opportunities for tribal housing development to contribute to regional housing needs.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB507