Terner Center Releases Report Highlighting Recent Bills and Unveils New Tracking Tool

The Terner Center for Housing Innovation released a report entitled New Pathways to Encourage Housing Production: A Review of California’s Recent Housing Legislation in April. Read More

The report compiles information collected from interviews with planners and land use lawyers to assess how the dozens of laws that have passed in recent years are influencing the production of new homes. While the report concludes that it is too early to tell for sure how impactful these laws will be in addressing the significant housing crisis faced by the State, there has been some positive, measurable impact in some areas that creates cautious optimism. The report cites three specific areas where we should be optimistic:

1. The State’s permit data shows that more ADUs and subsidized affordable homes are being constructed, with laws that make ADUs easier to build and streamlining reforms like SB 35 and AB 2162 increasing the pace of development.
2. In some cities, the report found that the culture had shifted in a positive way, with cities more inclined to approve development rather than erect roadblocks.
3. The changes in RHNA and Housing Element law are finally putting teeth in the Housing Element, requiring that cities not just plan for housing but establish programs and policies that lead to implementation.

In addition to the report, the Terner Center announced a new centralized database of housing bills, enabling users to research and explore the dozens of new housing laws passed in the State between 2017 and 2022. Users can search by code section, subject, or year. The tool will continue to be updated as new bills are signed into law.

Additionally, the Terner Center is partnering with organizations outside of California, including the Urban Institute and NYU’s Furman Center, to track legislation in other parts of the country.