SB 262: Housing element: prohousing designations: prohousing local policies. - California

10/10/25 - Chaptered → SB262 · 3 edits

MINOR

This diff represents a reformatting of SB 262 (Chapter 513) from its official chaptered document format to a web-based bill text display. The substantive legislative content is identical between both versions; only the presentation, navigation elements, and metadata differ.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was reformatted from an official chaptered PDF-style document (with page numbers, centered headers, and 'Ch. 513' markers) into a web-based display format with navigation menus, version history, and bill metadata.

Website navigation elements were added including skip-to-content links, FAQ, feedback, sitemap, login, quick search, and bill tracking features.

Bill metadata was added including the version list (Introduced through Chaptered), date published (10/13/2025), vote type (MAJORITY), appropriation status (NO), fiscal committee (YES), and local program (NO).

09/03/25 - Amended Assembly → 09/12/25 - Enrolled · 3 edits · Sep 12, 2025

MINOR

The transition from Amended Assembly to Enrolled version is primarily a formatting and cleanup change. The substantive text of the bill remains essentially the same, with two minor corrections: the phrase 'emergency permanent regulations' in Section 1.5 was shortened to 'permanent regulations,' and a duplicated word ('housing. housing,') in the definition of prohousing local policies was corrected to simply 'housing,'. The enrolled version adds standard legislative markers such as passage dates and the Governor's signature line.

TECHNICAL

In Section 1.5, subdivision (c)(1), the phrase 'emergency permanent regulations' was changed to 'permanent regulations,' removing the redundant word 'emergency.'

A typo in the definition of 'prohousing local policies' in Section 1.5 was corrected: 'construction of housing. housing, or policies that keep people housed' became 'construction of housing, or policies that keep people housed.'

Standard enrolled bill formatting was added, including Senate and Assembly passage dates (September 9 and 8, 2025 respectively), a line for the Governor's receipt date, and an approval signature block.

07/07/25 - Amended Assembly → 08/28/25 - Amended Assembly · 5 edits · Aug 28, 2025

MODERATE

SB 262 was amended to significantly rewrite one of the qualifying 'prohousing local policies' categories (N), shifting it from requiring actual creation or operation of low-barrier navigation centers or noncongregate shelters to instead rewarding jurisdictions that adopt ordinances or processes removing barriers to approval of low-barrier navigation centers, emergency shelters, and supportive housing beyond existing statutory requirements. The amendment also adds the Office of Planning and Research's Land Use and Climate Innovation division to the reporting requirements, duplicates the cap on bonus points for 'keep people housed' policies into a new subdivision (c)(2), and adds Assembly Member Garcia as coauthor.

ELIGIBILITY

Subdivision (f)(3)(N) was rewritten. Previously it required 'creation or operation of a low-barrier navigation center or other noncongregate shelter that meets minimum health and safety standards.' Now it requires 'adoption of ordinances, processes, or other mechanisms that expedite, or remove barriers to, the approval' of three types of facilities: (i) low-barrier navigation centers beyond Article 12 requirements, (ii) emergency shelters beyond Section 65583 requirements, and (iii) supportive housing beyond Article 11 requirements. This lowers the bar for qualifying (no actual facility needed) while expanding the types of covered facilities.

REQUIREMENT

Subdivision (c)(2) now contains a cap stating that additional points or preferences for prohousing local policies in subparagraphs (L) through (N) shall not exceed the minimum value awarded for a policy directly relating to planning, approval, or construction of housing. This same cap already existed in subdivision (b)(2), so it is now stated in both places.

ENFORCEMENT

Subdivision (c)(1) now requires the department to report prohousing designations to 'the Office of Planning and Research, Land Use and Climate Innovation' rather than just 'the Office of Planning and Research,' adding a specific division to the reporting chain.

TECHNICAL

Assembly Member Garcia added as coauthor.

Programs listed in subdivision (b)(1) were renumbered from letters (A) through (E) to numbers (1) through (5). No programs were added or removed.

09/12/25 - Enrolled → 10/10/25 - Chaptered · 2 edits · Oct 10, 2025

MINOR

This diff reflects the standard transition of SB 262 from its enrolled form (as passed by the legislature) to its chaptered form (as signed by the Governor on October 10, 2025 and filed as Chapter 513). No substantive policy changes were made. The differences are limited to formatting: removal of Senate and Assembly passage language and clerk signatures, addition of the chapter number, governor's approval date, and standard chaptered bill headers.

TECHNICAL

Replaced enrolled bill formatting (Senate/Assembly passage dates, clerk signatures, blank lines for governor's signature) with chaptered bill formatting including 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL,' Chapter 513 designation, and the Governor's approval date of October 10, 2025.

Page headers and footers changed from 'SB 262' to 'Ch. 513' throughout the document.

03/19/25 - Amended Senate → 05/29/25 - Amended Senate · 3 edits · May 29, 2025

MINOR

The May 29 amendment to SB 262 adds a new cap on bonus points that can be awarded for certain housing stability policies (rent stabilization, safe parking, and safe camping programs) in state grant program scoring. Specifically, points for these 'keep people housed' policies cannot exceed the minimum value of points given to policies that directly relate to planning, approval, or construction of new housing. The bill's summary was also shortened to remove specific references to the named policy examples.

REQUIREMENT

New subdivision (b)(2) caps the additional points or preferences that can be awarded for prohousing local policies in subparagraphs (L) through (N) of the definition (rent stabilization, safe parking, and safe camping programs). The cap sets a ceiling: these points cannot exceed the minimum value of points awarded for a policy that directly relates to planning, approval, or construction of housing. This creates a hierarchy favoring new housing production over housing stability measures in grant scoring.

TECHNICAL

Subdivision (b) was restructured from a flat numbered list of programs into a nested format with (b)(1) containing the program list as sub-items (A) through (E), making room for the new (b)(2) cap provision.

SCOPE

The bill's summary paragraph was shortened. The March version specifically named rent stabilization ordinances, safe parking and safe camping programs, and eviction defense funding as the additional examples being added. The May version uses the more general phrase 'additional examples of prohousing local policies under the above-described provisions' without naming them individually.

05/29/25 - Amended Senate → 07/07/25 - Amended Assembly · 5 edits · Jul 7, 2025

MODERATE

The Assembly amended SB 262 by removing three examples of 'prohousing local policies' - residential rent stabilization ordinances, funding for eviction defense legal services, and tenant protections - and adding a new example covering local ordinances or processes that expedite or remove barriers to approving low-barrier navigation centers, emergency shelters, and supportive housing beyond existing state requirements. The remaining changes are formatting corrections (line renumbering, indentation, page numbers).

DEFINITION

Removed 'a residential rent stabilization ordinance' from the nonexhaustive list of examples of prohousing local policies.

Removed 'funding legal services for eviction defense and eviction prevention' from the list of prohousing local policy examples.

Removed 'tenant protections' from the list of prohousing local policy examples.

Added a new example of a prohousing local policy: adoption of ordinances, processes, or other mechanisms that expedite or remove barriers to approval of (i) low-barrier navigation centers beyond Article 12 requirements, (ii) emergency shelters beyond Section 65583 requirements, and (iii) supportive housing beyond Article 11 requirements.

TECHNICAL

Reformatted the list in subdivision (b) from numbered sub-items (1)(A), (2)(B), etc. to simple lettered items (A), (B), (C), etc., and corrected line numbering and page numbers throughout.

08/28/25 - Amended Assembly → 09/03/25 - Amended Assembly · 5 edits · Sep 3, 2025

MODERATE

SB 262 was amended to add a new Section 1.5 that creates specific accommodations for small rural jurisdictions in the prohousing designation process, including reduced documentation requirements and a minimum four-year designation period without renewal. The amendment also adds a coordination provision (Section 2) making part of the bill conditional on AB 36 being enacted first, creating an inter-bill dependency. These changes matter because they lower administrative barriers for smaller rural communities seeking prohousing status while resolving potential conflicts with companion legislation.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to specifically address small rural jurisdictions (cities under 25,000 population or counties under 200,000) with reduced administrative burdens in the prohousing designation process. Additionally, the bill now has a conditional operative mechanism tied to AB 36, meaning part of its provisions may not take effect depending on the relative enactment timing of the two bills.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new definition of 'small rural jurisdiction' as a city with population under 25,000 or a county with population under 200,000

REQUIREMENT

Starting with the seventh housing element cycle, the department must evaluate existing housing element submission materials from small rural jurisdictions for evidence of prohousing policies to minimize the need for supplementary documentation, but only for jurisdictions that already have a compliant housing element

TIMELINE

Small rural jurisdictions cannot be required to renew their prohousing designations for at least four years, though the department retains authority to revoke a designation

SCOPE

Added Section 2 as a coordination provision: Section 1.5 only becomes operative if both SB 262 and AB 36 are enacted by January 1, 2026, both amend Section 65589.9, and SB 262 is enacted after AB 36 (in which case Section 1 of SB 262 does not become operative)

TECHNICAL

The bill summary was updated to note that the bill incorporates additional changes to Section 65589.9 proposed by AB 36, operative only if both bills are enacted and SB 262 is enacted last

02/03/25 - Introduced → 03/19/25 - Amended Senate · 4 edits · Mar 19, 2025

MODERATE

The amended version broadens the definition of 'prohousing local policies' to include not just policies that facilitate new housing construction but also policies that keep people housed. Two new examples were added to the nonexhaustive list: low-barrier navigation centers or other noncongregate shelters, and tenant protections (a broadly open-ended category). This matters because it expands what local jurisdictions can do to qualify for prohousing designation and earn bonus points in state program scoring.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'prohousing local policies' was expanded from 'policies that facilitate the planning, approval, or construction of housing' to also include 'policies that keep people housed.' This shifts the focus from purely supply-side (building new units) to also include retention and anti-displacement measures.

SCOPE

A new example (P) was added: creation or operation of a low-barrier navigation center or other noncongregate shelter that meets minimum health and safety standards. This recognizes homeless service infrastructure as a prohousing policy.

A new example (Q) was added: 'Tenant protections.' This is an intentionally broad and open-ended category that could encompass rent control, just-cause eviction protections, right to counsel in housing court, or other tenant-side measures.

TECHNICAL

A typo was corrected: 'backround' changed to 'background' in the safe parking program description.

Housing element: prohousing designations: prohousing local policies.

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