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AB-2525 • 2026

Surplus lands: Mission Bay Park.

Surplus lands: Mission Bay Park.

Housing
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Ward
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not support the claim that the bill exempts lands in Mission Bay Park from certain notice requirements. This statement was removed as it is unsupported by the provided text.

Surplus Lands: Mission Bay Park

AB-2525 changes how surplus land in Mission Bay Park, San Diego is handled by local agencies.

What This Bill Does

  • Expands the definition of 'exempt surplus land' to include lands within Mission Bay Park in San Diego.
  • Requires the city to notify the Department of Housing and Community Development before disposing of exempt surplus land from Mission Bay Park.
  • Specifies that funds from the disposal of this land must be put into a special housing account.
  • Adds requirements for recording restrictions on the land when it is disposed of as exempt surplus land.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The City of San Diego
  • Local agencies that manage land within Mission Bay Park

Terms To Know

Surplus Land
Land owned by a local agency that is no longer needed for the agency's use.
Exempt Surplus Land
Certain types of surplus land that are not subject to all disposal requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the city violates these new rules.
  • It is unclear how this will affect housing development in Mission Bay Park.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-04-20 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.

  3. 2026-04-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended.

  4. 2026-04-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.

  5. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

  6. 2026-04-06 California Legislative Information

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

  7. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

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

  8. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  9. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2525, as amended, Ward.
Surplus lands: Mission Bay Park.
Existing law prescribes requirements for the disposal of surplus land by a local agency. Existing law defines “surplus land” for these purposes to mean land owned in fee simple by any local agency for which the local agency’s governing body takes formal action in a regular public meeting declaring that the land is surplus and is not necessary for the agency’s use. Existing law requires that land be declared either “surplus land” or “exempt surplus land,” as supported by written findings, before a local agency may take any action to dispose of it consistent with an agency’s policies or procedures.
Existing law provides that an agency is not required to
follow the requirements for the disposal of surplus land for “exempt surplus land.” Existing law defines “exempt surplus land” to include certain types of land. Existing law makes a local agency that disposes of surplus land, in violation of the requirements for the disposal of surplus land after receiving specified notification from the Department of Housing and Community Development that the local agency is in violation, liable for a penalty of 30% of the applicable disposition value for a first violation and 50% for any subsequent violation, as provided.
This bill would expand the definition of “exempt surplus land” to include lands that comprise Mission Bay Park located within the City of San Diego, as provided. Among other requirements, the bill would require the city to provide the Department of Housing and Community Development a written notification of
its declaration and findings, and any restrictions recorded against the property, at least 30 days prior to disposing of land declared exempt surplus land, and would require the department to notify the city if the department has determined the city is in violation of these provisions, as provided.
This bill would require that the city meet specified requirements to declare exempt surplus land pursuant to these provisions, including depositing funds from the deposition into a local housing-specific set-aside account, as provided. The bill would provide that a violation of these provisions would be considered a 2nd or subsequent violation of the requirements for the disposal of surplus land, as provided. The bill would require that these requirements be contained in a covenant or restriction recorded against the surplus land at the time of disposition, as provided.
Existing law requires a local agency to declare land either “surplus land” or “exempt surplus land,” as supported by written findings, before the local agency may take any action to dispose of it consistent with an agency’s policies or procedures. Existing law generally requires a local agency, before disposing or negotiating to dispose of surplus land, to provide a written notice of the availability of the surplus land to specified entities and housing sponsors. Under existing law, land declared by an agency of the state or any local agency as “exempt surplus land” is not subject to these requirements.
This bill would exempt lands that comprise Mission Bay Park, as defined and located within the City of San Diego, as specified, from these requirements.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for Mission Bay Park.

Current Bill Text

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