Bill Commons

CA AB 1206

in committee

Single-family and multifamily housing units: preapproved plans.

California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · lower

Quick answers

Did CA AB 1206 pass?

Not yet. CA AB 1206 is in committee as of 2025-08-29 and has not come to a final vote. Latest recorded action (2025-08-29): In committee: Held under submission.

What is CA AB 1206 about?

Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, provides for the adoption and administration of zoning laws, ordinances, rules and regulations by counties and cities and the implementation of those general plans as may be in effect in those counties or cities. In that regard, existing law requires each local agency, by January 1, 2025, to develop a program for the preapproval of accessory dwelling unit plans. This bill would require each local agency, as defined, to develop a program for the preapproval of single-family and multifamily residential housing plans, whereby the local agency accepts single-family and multifamily plan submissions for preapproval and approves or denies the preapproval applications, as specified. The bill would require a large jurisdiction, as defined, to develop this program by July 1, 2026, and a small jurisdiction, as defined, to develop a program by January 1, 2028. The bill would authorize a local agency to charge a fee to an applicant for the preapproval of a single-family or multifamily residential housing plan, as specified. The bill would require the local agency to post preapproved single-family or multifamily residential housing plans and the contact information of the applicant on the local agency's internet website. The bill would require an application for preapproval to include a statement by the applicant that the applicant has sufficient authority, license, or ownership interest in the plan to submit the plan for preapproval and, if approved, posted as described above. This bill would prohibit the preapproval program from applying to single-family or multifamily residential housing plans intended for use in certain communities and developments, as specified. The bill would require a local agency to either approve or deny an application for a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit, both as defined, within 30 days if the lot meets certain conditions and the application utilizes either a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit plan preapproved within the current triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle or a plan that is identical to a plan used in an application for a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit approved by the local agency within the current triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle. The bill would also provide that its provisions do not prevent a local agency from voluntarily accepting or admitting additional plans at higher densities in additional zoning districts into the preapproved housing plan program, at the local agency's discretion. Existing law requires each county and each city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and specified land outside its boundaries, that includes, among other specified mandatory elements, a housing element. That law requires the planning agency of a city or county to provide by April 1 of each year an annual report to, among other entities, the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Existing law requires the annual report to include, among other things, the city's or county's progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs, as specified. This bill, beginning on April 1, 2027, for large jurisdictions and beginning on April 1, 2029, for small jurisdictions, would require the local agency to include in its annual report the number of units of residential housing that are approved using a preapproved housing plan pursuant to this act. By imposing new duties on local agencies with regard to developing a preapproval program and its annual report, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. Existing law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) , requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA does not apply to the approval of ministerial projects. To the extent that the ministerial review process established by the bill would apply to final, discretionary approval of an application for a single-family or multifamily housing unit, the bill would exempt those projects from CEQA. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Who sponsors CA AB 1206?

Harabedian is the primary sponsor of CA AB 1206, joined by 2 cosponsors.

Description

Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, provides for the adoption and administration of zoning laws, ordinances, rules and regulations by counties and cities and the implementation of those general plans as may be in effect in those counties or cities. In that regard, existing law requires each local agency, by January 1, 2025, to develop a program for the preapproval of accessory dwelling unit plans. This bill would require each local agency, as defined, to develop a program for the preapproval of single-family and multifamily residential housing plans, whereby the local agency accepts single-family and multifamily plan submissions for preapproval and approves or denies the preapproval applications, as specified. The bill would require a large jurisdiction, as defined, to develop this program by July 1, 2026, and a small jurisdiction, as defined, to develop a program by January 1, 2028. The bill would authorize a local agency to charge a fee to an applicant for the preapproval of a single-family or multifamily residential housing plan, as specified. The bill would require the local agency to post preapproved single-family or multifamily residential housing plans and the contact information of the applicant on the local agency's internet website. The bill would require an application for preapproval to include a statement by the applicant that the applicant has sufficient authority, license, or ownership interest in the plan to submit the plan for preapproval and, if approved, posted as described above. This bill would prohibit the preapproval program from applying to single-family or multifamily residential housing plans intended for use in certain communities and developments, as specified. The bill would require a local agency to either approve or deny an application for a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit, both as defined, within 30 days if the lot meets certain conditions and the application utilizes either a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit plan preapproved within the current triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle or a plan that is identical to a plan used in an application for a single-family or multifamily residential housing unit approved by the local agency within the current triennial California Building Standards Code rulemaking cycle. The bill would also provide that its provisions do not prevent a local agency from voluntarily accepting or admitting additional plans at higher densities in additional zoning districts into the preapproved housing plan program, at the local agency's discretion. Existing law requires each county and each city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and specified land outside its boundaries, that includes, among other specified mandatory elements, a housing element. That law requires the planning agency of a city or county to provide by April 1 of each year an annual report to, among other entities, the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Existing law requires the annual report to include, among other things, the city's or county's progress in meeting its share of regional housing needs, as specified. This bill, beginning on April 1, 2027, for large jurisdictions and beginning on April 1, 2029, for small jurisdictions, would require the local agency to include in its annual report the number of units of residential housing that are approved using a preapproved housing plan pursuant to this act. By imposing new duties on local agencies with regard to developing a preapproval program and its annual report, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. Existing law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) , requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA does not apply to the approval of ministerial projects. To the extent that the ministerial review process established by the bill would apply to final, discretionary approval of an application for a single-family or multifamily housing unit, the bill would exempt those projects from CEQA. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Introduced
2025-02-21
Latest action
2025-08-29 — In committee: Held under submission.
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Harabedianauthor
  • Haneycoauthor
  • Wickscoauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

  1. 2025-02-21

    Introduced. To print.

    introduction

  2. 2025-02-22

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.

  3. 2025-02-24

    Read first time.

    reading-1

  4. 2025-03-13

    Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV.

    referral-committee

  5. 2025-03-26

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (March 26).

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee

  6. 2025-03-27

    Read second time and amended.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2

  7. 2025-03-28

    Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

    referral-committee

  8. 2025-04-10

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee

  9. 2025-04-23

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 23).

    committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable

  10. 2025-04-24

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

    reading-1,reading-2,reading-3

  11. 2025-05-08

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 66. Noes 1. Page 1478.)

    passage,reading-1,reading-3

  12. 2025-05-08

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    reading-1,referral-committee

  13. 2025-05-21

    Referred to Coms. on L. GOV. and HOUSING.

    referral-committee

  14. 2025-06-09

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  15. 2025-06-23

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HOUSING. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (June 18).

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee

  16. 2025-06-24

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HOUSING.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  17. 2025-07-16

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (July 15).

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,referral-committee

  18. 2025-07-17

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  19. 2025-08-18

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    amendment-introduction,amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee

  20. 2025-08-18

    (Ayes 27. Noes 0. Page 2171.)

  21. 2025-08-25

    In committee: Referred to suspense file.

    referral-committee

  22. 2025-08-29

    In committee: Held under submission.

Versions

  • 02/21/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-21Compare
  • 03/27/25 - Amended Assembly — 2025-03-27Compare
  • 06/09/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-06-09Compare
  • 06/24/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-06-24Compare
  • 07/17/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-07-17Compare
  • 08/18/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-08-18Compare
  • AB1206Compare
  • (document, no version)Compare

Documents

Votes

  • Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government]

    2025-03-26 · pass · 11-0

    Member-level votes (11)
    • Kalra: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Gallagher: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Wicks: yes

  • Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2025-04-09 · pass · 10-0

    Member-level votes (10)
    • Stefani: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Ransom: yes

  • Do pass.

    2025-04-23 · pass · 12-0

    Member-level votes (15)
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Arambula: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Hart: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Sanchez: other
    • Tangipa: other
    • Dixon: other

  • AB 1206 Harabedian Assembly Third Reading

    2025-05-08 · pass · 66-1

    Member-level votes (79)
    • Gabriel: yes
    • McKinnor: yes
    • Gallagher: yes
    • Hoover: yes
    • Schiavo: yes
    • Lowenthal: yes
    • Bains: yes
    • Ramos: yes
    • Wallis: yes
    • Nguyen: yes
    • Gipson: yes
    • Mark González: yes
    • Bryan: yes
    • Dixon: yes
    • Berman: yes
    • Zbur: yes
    • Chen: yes
    • Haney: yes
    • Ortega: yes
    • Harabedian: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Ward: yes
    • Carrillo: yes
    • Davies: yes
    • Michelle Rodriguez: yes
    • Pellerin: yes
    • Calderon: yes
    • Wicks: yes
    • Caloza: yes
    • Hadwick: yes
    • Garcia: yes
    • Ávila Farías: yes
    • Papan: yes
    • Elhawary: yes
    • Ahrens: yes
    • Bennett: yes
    • Connolly: yes
    • Fong: yes
    • Patel: yes
    • Bauer-Kahan: yes
    • Flora: yes
    • Wilson: yes
    • Pacheco: yes
    • Lee: yes
    • Solache: yes
    • Stefani: yes
    • Alanis: yes
    • Jackson: yes
    • Krell: yes
    • Sharp-Collins: yes
    • Bonta: yes
    • Ransom: yes
    • Rivas: yes
    • Soria: yes
    • Valencia: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Alvarez: yes
    • Schultz: yes
    • Blanca Rubio: yes
    • Addis: yes
    • Aguiar-Curry: yes
    • Petrie-Norris: yes
    • Ta: yes
    • Muratsuchi: yes
    • Quirk-Silva: yes
    • Kalra: yes
    • DeMaio: no
    • Castillo: other
    • Macedo: other
    • Jeff Gonzalez: other
    • Arambula: other
    • Irwin: other
    • Lackey: other
    • Hart: other
    • Celeste Rodriguez: other
    • Ellis: other
    • Boerner: other
    • Tangipa: other
    • Sanchez: other

  • Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Housing]

    2025-06-18 · pass · 5-2

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Laird: yes
    • Wiener: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Choi: no
    • Seyarto: no

  • Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]

    2025-07-15 · pass · 8-2

    Member-level votes (11)
    • Gonzalez: yes
    • Arreguín: yes
    • Padilla: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Cortese: yes
    • Durazo: yes
    • Grayson: yes
    • Wahab: yes
    • Ochoa Bogh: no
    • Seyarto: no
    • Cabaldon: other

  • Placed on suspense file

    2025-08-25 · pass · 6-0

    Member-level votes (7)
    • Grayson: yes
    • Cabaldon: yes
    • Caballero: yes
    • Dahle: yes
    • Richardson: yes
    • Seyarto: yes
    • Wahab: other

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1206

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T01:34:27.960412Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changesStatus and relationship changes

Use this data

Every field on this page is available from the free public API — no key or licence required. Fetch this bill as JSON: GET /api/v1/bills?jurisdiction=CA&identifier=AB 1206. See the API docs or the MCP server for AI assistants.

Known limitations

  • Sponsor party and chamber affiliation are not yet captured by this API.
  • Committee referrals are not yet captured.
  • Some documents have no extracted text yet, so version comparison may be limited.

See the methodology page for data sources and limitations.