Plain English Breakdown
The official status label says the bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, but the last action listed is a committee holding it 'under submission' in May 2026. This contradiction makes the effective date unclear.
AB-1926: Rules for Reviewing Home Building Costs
This proposed law requires state agencies to study how building rules raise costs for homes and apartments, propose changes by January 1, 2031, and get approval before adopting new standards that might increase construction expenses.
What This Bill Does
- Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to review cost pressures on single-family and multifamily housing caused by building standards and regulations.
- Mandates a report with recommendations to lower these costs be sent to state housing committees by January 1, 2031.
- Orders agencies to propose rule changes during every three-year code update starting in 2032 that reduce upfront building costs while keeping safety standards.
- Requires written approval from the Department of Housing and Community Development for any new standard or regulation that could raise construction costs before it becomes effective.
- Sets a rule that proposed standards must not cost more than reasonable alternative options when comparing direct and indirect expenses.
Who It Names or Affects
- The California Building Standards Commission
- The Department of Housing and Community Development
- State agencies proposing building rules or regulations
- Builders of single-family homes and multifamily residential structures
Terms To Know
- California Building Standards Code
- The official collection of state rules that govern how buildings must be constructed.
- Triennial update
- A review and revision process for building codes that happens every three years.
- Reasonable alternatives
- Other ways to meet a safety or building goal that cost less than the proposed standard, based on direct and indirect costs.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not specify exactly which rules will be changed, only that agencies must propose changes.
- The law sets deadlines for reports and proposals but does not list specific dollar amounts or percentage reductions in costs.
- Although the metadata states the bill passed both chambers, it also notes a committee action of 'Held under submission' on May 14, 2026, leaving uncertainty about its final status.