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California Strengthens Coordination Between State and Local Governments in Planning for Future Housing Needs

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

California has taken a significant step towards addressing its housing crisis with the signing of SB 233 into law. This bill, championed by Senator Kelly Seyarto, aims to improve coordination between state and local governments in planning for future housing needs. By requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to meet with Councils of Governments (COGs) at least 38 months before a scheduled revision of a region's housing plan, cities, counties, and regional agencies will have more time to collaborate and develop realistic, community-driven housing strategies.

Key Takeaways:

  • SB 233 strengthens coordination between state and local governments in planning for future housing needs, providing more time for collaboration and community-driven solutions.
  • The bill requires the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to meet with Councils of Governments (COGs) at least 38 months before a scheduled revision of a region's housing plan, a year earlier than current law.
  • The change aims to address challenges faced during the sixth housing element cycle, when HCD provided regional housing determinations just 26 months before the deadline, leading to widespread delays and fines for over 100 jurisdictions.
  • SB 233 receives unanimous bipartisan support in the Legislature, building on recommendations from regional planning organizations such as the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).
  • The bill provides local jurisdictions with the time and tools needed to craft housing plans that reflect the unique needs of their communities.
  • Senator Kelly Seyarto stated that California's housing process works best when there is clear communication between the state and local governments, and SB 233 gives local jurisdictions the time and tools they need to plan responsibly for housing needs.

Statistics:

  • 38 months: The minimum time required by SB 233 for the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to meet with Councils of Governments (COGs) before a scheduled revision of a region's housing plan.
  • 26 months: The time provided by current law for HCD to provide regional housing determinations, which led to widespread delays and fines for over 100 jurisdictions.
  • 100 jurisdictions: The number of jurisdictions that missed their housing element deadlines and incurred fines due to the compressed schedule.
  • 1 year: The additional time provided by SB 233 for local governments to collaborate and develop effective community-driven housing strategies.

Sources:

  • [California State Senator Kelly Seyarto], Press Release, "Senator Kelly Seyarto: SB 233 Strengthens Coordination Between State and Local Governments in Planning for Future Housing Needs"

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