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SB-808 • 2026

Civil Actions: writs: housing development projects.

Civil Actions: writs: housing development projects.

Housing
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Caballero
Last action
2025-10-10
Official status
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 527, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific consequences if deadlines are missed.

Housing Development Project Permit Review

This law provides an expedited process for reviewing decisions by local agencies regarding permits or other entitlements for housing development projects.

What This Bill Does

  • It allows a petitioner, the Attorney General, and the Department of Housing and Community Development to file a petition for writ of mandate when a permit or entitlement is denied for a housing project.
  • Local agencies must compile records of their proceedings upon request from an applicant or notice from the department or the Attorney General, and certify these records within 15 days after receiving a writ.
  • A hearing must be set no later than 45 days after filing the petition, and the court has up to 75 days to issue a decision.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to build housing projects
  • Local agencies that give out permits for housing projects
  • Courts that handle these cases

Terms To Know

petitioner
A person or group asking the court for help.
writ of mandate
An order from a judge telling someone to do something specific, like review a permit decision.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if local agencies or courts miss the deadlines.
  • It is unclear how many housing projects will be affected by this new process.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-10 California Legislative Information

    Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 527, Statutes of 2025.

  2. 2025-10-10 California Legislative Information

    Approved by the Governor.

  3. 2025-09-09 California Legislative Information

    Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.

  4. 2025-09-04 California Legislative Information

    In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

  5. 2025-09-03 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2875.) Ordered to the Senate.

  6. 2025-09-02 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  7. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (August 29).

  8. 2025-07-16 California Legislative Information

    July 16 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  9. 2025-06-17 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  10. 2025-06-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on JUD.

  11. 2025-05-28 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  12. 2025-05-28 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1292.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  13. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  14. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  15. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1214.) (May 23).

  16. 2025-05-16 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 23.

  17. 2025-04-21 California Legislative Information

    April 21 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  18. 2025-04-10 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 21.

  19. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 707.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  20. 2025-03-27 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 8.

  21. 2025-03-12 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on JUD.

  22. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    Read first time.

  23. 2025-02-24 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.

  24. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 808, Caballero.
Civil Actions: writs: housing development projects.
Existing law sets forth an expedited procedure for judicial review of decisions by a local public agency regarding the issuance, revocation, suspension, or denial of a permit involving expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as specified.
This bill would provide similar expedited judicial review for denials of permits or other entitlements for housing development projects or residential units at the trial and appellate level, as specified. The bill would authorize a petitioner, the Attorney General, or the Department of Housing and Community Development to file a petition for writ of mandate under these provisions. The bill would require
a local agency, upon the request of an applicant or notice from the department or the Attorney General, to compile a record of its proceedings as they occur and to certify the record within 15 days of the service of a writ. The bill would require that a hearing be set no later than 45 days after the filing of the writ and that the court issue a decision no later than 30 days after the matter is submitted or 75 days after the writ was filed, whichever is earlier. The bill would
authorize the temporary assignment of judicial officers to ensure the timelines are met.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF