Housing reform laws: enforcement actions: fines and penalties.

Assembly Member Wicks' housing enforcement measure establishes new legal remedies for developers when local agencies violate state housing laws. The legislation entitles housing project applicants who prevail in compliance lawsuits to recover attorney's fees and requires courts to impose minimum fines on non-compliant agencies.

Under the bill, local agencies face escalating penalties for violations, particularly when they have received prior written advisories from the Attorney General or Department of Housing and Community Development about potential non-compliance. Fines increase fivefold for agencies with repeated violations during the same planning period. The measure extends the statute of limitations by 60 days once applicants provide written notice of intent to sue.

The legislation prohibits public agencies from requiring housing developers to sign indemnification agreements related to the agency's own potential violations of housing laws. These provisions aim to prevent agencies from deterring legitimate compliance challenges through liability transfer requirements. The bill declares any such indemnification requirements void as against public policy.