General plan: annual report: housing units.
This bill imposes a state mandate on local governments by requiring them to provide more comprehensive data on their housing stock in annual reports. While this may enhance accountability and transparency regarding housing needs and availability, it raises concerns among local agencies about the financial implications of additional reporting requirements. According to the bill's provisions, no state reimbursement is required for the new obligations imposed, which may lead to budgetary constraints for smaller municipalities that may struggle with compliance costs.
Assembly Bill 3086, introduced by Assembly Member Santiago, seeks to amend Section 65400 of the Government Code concerning housing requirements. The bill mandates that cities and counties include additional details in their annual reports to the Department of Housing and Community Development. Specifically, they are required to report on the number of housing units with expired long-term affordable covenants and those withdrawn from local rent control or any price control. This requirement adds to existing reporting obligations regarding housing needs and successes in implementing the general plan for land use development.
There are potential points of contention surrounding the new reporting requirements. Proponents believe that the additional data will help to better address housing shortages and assess the impact of policies on affordability. However, critics argue that it could lead to burdensome reporting that detracts from local management focuses, ultimately complicating rather than streamlining housing development processes. The lack of reimbursement for associated costs further fuels debate about the adequacy of support for local governments in implementing state mandates.