General plan: housing elements.
This amendment aims to streamline the process through which local governments report their land inventory, thereby enhancing the state's overall housing planning efforts. By instituting clearer guidelines and electronic submission mandates, the bill seeks to improve transparency and accessibility of housing data, allowing for better state oversight and planning. The anticipated outcome is to address California's ongoing housing crisis by more effectively matching land supply with demand.
Assembly Bill 2825, introduced by Assembly Member Stone, amends Section 65583.3 of the Government Code relating to housing elements within a general plan territory of California. The bill primarily addresses the requirements for local governments regarding the submission of their inventory of land suitable for residential development to the Department of Housing and Community Development. Notably, for any housing element or amendment adopted on or after January 1, 2021, the planning agencies are mandated to submit an electronic copy of their land inventory which is critical to housing development in the state.
While AB 2825 primarily makes non-substantive changes, discussions around it reflect ongoing tensions in California about housing policies. Proponents argue that improved reporting standards will promote accountability and facilitate better housing development strategies at both the local and state levels. However, critics may express concerns about the adequacy of the measures in actually addressing the deep-seated issues of housing availability and affordability. There is also an underlying tension between state oversight and local autonomy in regard to land management and housing solutions.