Housing elements: prohousing designation.

Assembly Member Soria's housing legislation modifies California's prohousing designation process, shifting from emergency to permanent regulations while introducing new provisions for rural communities. The bill maintains scoring advantages in state housing and infrastructure programs for jurisdictions that demonstrate compliance with housing element requirements and implement policies supporting residential development.

For small rural jurisdictions—defined as cities under 25,000 residents or counties under 200,000 residents—the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) must evaluate existing housing element materials for evidence of prohousing policies when requested, provided the jurisdiction has a compliant housing element. These jurisdictions also receive extended prohousing designation periods of at least four years before renewal is required, though HCD retains authority to revoke designations when warranted.

The legislation preserves bonus points and preferences in multiple state programs, including the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program, the Transformative Climate Communities Program, and various infill grant initiatives. Local policies that qualify for prohousing designation encompass financial incentives for housing, reduced parking requirements, by-right residential development zones, streamlined permit processing, and measures facilitating conversion of commercial properties to residential use. HCD must report designations annually to the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation while maintaining a public list of eligible programs on its website.