AB-2295 • 2026

Regional housing need: affordable housing.

Housing

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Johnson
Last action: 2026-03-09
Official status: Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the number of local governments expected to make agreements or the impact on actual housing construction.

Affordable Housing Agreements Between Local Governments

This law allows local governments to make agreements with each other so that new housing projects can count towards their required affordable housing goals if the project includes homes for very low and lower income families.

What This Bill Does

It lets local governments agree on how new housing projects can help meet regional housing needs.
These agreements must include housing units for very low and lower income households.
Local governments can work together to count these affordable housing units towards their share of the regional housing need.

Who It Names or Affects

Local governments that want to work together on affordable housing projects
Developers who build new housing projects with affordable units

Terms To Know

Affordable Housing: Housing that costs less than what very low and lower income families can afford.
Regional Housing Need: The number of homes needed in a region to house people at all income levels.

Limits and Unknowns

It does not specify how many local governments will actually make these agreements.
It is unclear if this law will lead to more affordable housing being built.

Bill History

2026-03-09 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2026-02-19 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2295, as introduced, Johnson.
Regional housing need: affordable housing.
Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development, in consultation with each council of governments, to determine each region’s existing and projected housing need, as provided. Existing law requires each council of governments, or delegate subregion as applicable, to develop and adopt a methodology for distributing the existing and projected regional housing need to cities, counties, and cities and counties within the region or within the subregion, as provided. Existing law also requires each council of governments and delegate subregion, as applicable, to adopt a final allocation of regional housing needs to each local government in the region or subregion, where applicable, and the department, based on that adopted methodology. Existing law requires that the housing element of a county’s or city’s general plan include, among other things, a quantification of the
locality’s existing and projected housing needs for all income levels, which must include the locality’s share of the regional housing need, as provided. Existing law authorizes a local government within the same county as a federally recognized Native American tribe to enter into a voluntary agreement with a tribe to allow new tribal housing development projects to count toward the locality’s share of the regional housing needs allocation if certain conditions are met.
This bill would authorize a local government, as defined, to enter into a voluntary agreement with another local government to allow new housing development projects to count toward each locality’s share of the regional housing needs allocation if certain conditions are met, including that the project includes affordable housing units for very low and lower income households.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF