Housing element: prohousing designations: prohousing local policies.

Senator Wahab's proposal to expand California's prohousing designation criteria would add rent stabilization ordinances, homeless assistance programs, and eviction prevention services to the state's existing framework for incentivizing local housing policies.

The bill modifies the current prohousing designation system, which awards additional points in state grant competitions to jurisdictions that implement policies supporting housing development. Under the proposed changes, local governments could qualify for these incentives by adopting residential rent stabilization measures or establishing safe parking programs for vehicle residents that include bathroom facilities, security personnel, and formal enrollment processes. The legislation also recognizes safe camping programs for unsheltered individuals and funding for eviction-related legal services as qualifying prohousing policies.

These additions would join existing qualifying measures such as housing trust funds, reduced parking requirements, by-right development approvals, and streamlined permit processing. Local jurisdictions that implement these policies and maintain compliant housing elements would continue receiving preferential scoring in state programs, including the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program and the Transformative Climate Communities Program.