Regional housing need: determination: consultation with councils of governments.

Senator Seyarto's housing legislation modifies the timeline for determining regional housing needs in California, extending the consultation period between the Department of Housing and Community Development and regional planning bodies from 26 to 38 months for most jurisdictions.

The bill establishes different deadlines for the seventh revision of local housing elements. While four specific councils of governments - Humboldt County, Lake Area, Mendocino, and San Luis Obispo - maintain the current 26-month consultation requirement, all other councils must begin consultations 38 months before their scheduled revision. For the eighth and subsequent revisions, the 38-month timeline applies uniformly across all regions.

Under the existing framework, councils of governments provide detailed data to inform housing needs assessments, including projected household growth, overcrowding rates, vacancy rates, and homelessness statistics. The consultation process allows councils to object to the department's determinations within 30 days, requiring the department to issue a final written determination within 45 days of receiving an objection. The bill maintains these data requirements and objection procedures while adjusting only the initial consultation timeline.