Back to California

AB-1895 • 2026

Surplus Land Act: exemptions: land unsuitable for housing.

Surplus Land Act: exemptions: land unsuitable for housing.

Housing
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Hadwick
Last action
Official status
Assembly - Local Government
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers but does not confirm if it has been signed by the Governor or enacted.

Exempting Unsafe Land from Surplus Housing Rules

This law expands the definition of exempt surplus land to include property that is unsafe for housing due to specific hazards like slope instability and seismic risks.

What This Bill Does

  • Broadens the legal definition of exempt surplus land under existing state laws.
  • Allows local agencies to skip certain reporting steps when disposing of land unsuitable for housing development.
  • Identifies land with slope instability as a reason it cannot be used for housing.
  • Lists mudslides, landslides, subsidence, liquefaction, and other seismic hazards as characteristics that make land unsuitable.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local agencies that own or manage surplus public land.
  • The Department of Housing and Community Development regarding reporting requirements for exempt land.

Terms To Know

Surplus Land
Publicly owned land declared as no longer needed by a local agency before it can be disposed of.
Exempt Surplus Land
A category of surplus land that does not have to follow standard disposal procedures, such as reporting requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill text lists specific hazards but uses the phrase 'and other seismic hazards,' leaving some uncertainty about which additional risks qualify.
  • The official summary does not state when this change will officially take effect or if it has been signed into law.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Assembly - Local Government

Official Summary Text

Surplus Land Act: exemptions: land unsuitable for housing.