Bill > AB906

This bill modifies California's housing element law to make significant changes to how cities and counties plan for and distribute housing, with a particular focus on fair housing practices. The bill requires local governments to create more comprehensive and nuanced housing plans that analyze fair housing issues in greater depth, including examining patterns of segregation, disparities in access to opportunities, and disproportionate housing needs across different protected classes. Local jurisdictions must now conduct a detailed assessment of fair housing challenges, make this draft assessment publicly available for at least 90 days, and seek input from community members, especially those in protected classes. The bill mandates that housing sites be distributed throughout a jurisdiction in a way that allows for a reduction in residential segregation, and requires cities and counties to identify specific strategies to address fair housing priorities, such as enabling members of protected classes to live in their preferred neighborhoods and encouraging affordable housing development in both higher-income and historically disinvested areas. By April 2027, the state will develop an online tool to help determine whether housing site distributions meet fair housing requirements, and local governments must use a standardized reporting format to describe their fair housing strategies. The bill applies to all California cities, including charter cities, and is designed to create more equitable housing opportunities across different communities.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB906