(1) The Planning and Zoning Law requires a city or county to adopt a general plan for land use development that includes, among other things, a housing element. Existing law requires the housing element to include, among other things, an assessment of housing needs and an inventory of resources and constraints that are relevant to meeting these needs.
For a local government that does not receive funding to address the population of individuals who are unhoused pursuant to certain state programs, this bill would require the assessment to include, among other things, specified data regarding the population of individuals who are unhoused and a description of key actions that will be taken to reduce individuals who are unhoused based on the data. By imposing additional duties on local governments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2) Existing law establishes the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program (HHAP) for the purpose of providing jurisdictions with grant funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address their immediate homelessness challenges, as specified. Existing law provides for the allocation of funding under the program among continuums of care, cities, counties, and tribes in 6 rounds, which are administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Upon appropriation by the Legislature, this bill would establish Round 7 of the HHAP program. To be eligible for a Round 7 base program allocation, the bill would require specified jurisdictions to apply as part of a region and be signatory to a Round 7 regionally coordinated homeless action plan that has been approved by the department. The bill would require the plan to include an inventory of existing and planned city-operated shelters, the expected cost for those shelters, and a commitment by counties to contribute 50% of the expected costs, as specified.
On or before the end of the 2025–26 fiscal year, the bill would require a grantee to submit to the department an update on its regionally coordinated homeless action plan activities for department review, as specified. The bill would authorize a board of supervisors of a county to adopt a resolution determining that contributing 50% of expected costs is financially infeasible, as specified. If a county adopts the resolution, the bill would require the department to determine the contribution percentage of the county, as specified. On or before the end of the 2025–26 fiscal year, the bill would require cities to submit to the department the actual operating cost of city-operated shelters and require counties to reimburse cities for any excess contributions. The bill would authorize the department to withhold 50% of funds from a grantee until the department has approved the update.
(3) Existing law, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) , an initiative measure enacted by the voters as Proposition 63 at the November 2, 2004, statewide general election, funds a system of county mental health plans for the provision of mental health services, as specified. Existing law authorizes the MHSA to be amended by a 23 vote of the Legislature if the amendments are consistent with and further the intent of the MHSA. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to add provisions to clarify procedures and terms of the MHSA by majority vote. Existing law, the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) , a legislative act amending the MHSA that was approved by the voters as Proposition 1 at the March 5, 2024, statewide primary election, recast the MHSA. The BHSA requires each county to prepare and submit an integrated plan, including sections for specified programs and services, such as services provided through federal grants or other county mental health and substance use disorder programs, and annual updates to the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and the State Department of Health Care Services.
This bill would additionally require the integrated plan to include a section regarding programs and services relating to Round 7 of the HHAP program, as prescribed.
(4) 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.
(5) 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Statutes affected:
03/25/25 - Amended Senate: 65583 GOV, 65583 GOV, 5963.02 WIC, 5963.02 WIC