What AB 650 does
An act to amend Sections 65583, 65584, 65584.01, 65584.03, 65584.04, 65584.05, and 65585 of the Government Code, relating to land use.
(1)Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, which includes, among other mandatory elements, a housing element. Existing law requires a public agency to administer its programs and activities relating to housing and community development in a manner to affirmatively further fair housing, and take no action that is materially inconsistent with its obligation to affirmatively further fair housing. Existing law defines “affirmatively furthering fair housing,” as provided.
The Planning and Zoning Law requires that a housing element include, among other things, a program that sets forth a schedule of actions during the planning period. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop a standardized reporting format for programs and actions taken pursuant to the requirement to affirmatively further fair housing.
This bill would require the department to develop the above-described standardized reporting format on or before December 31, 2026.
(2)Existing law requires, for the 4th and subsequent revisions of the housing element, the department to determine the existing and projected need for housing for each region, as specified. Existing law requires the department, in consultation with the council of governments, to determine the existing and projected need of housing for each region at least 2 years prior to the scheduled revision of the housing element, as provided. Existing law requires the department to meet and consult with the council of governments regarding the assumptions and methodology to be used to determine the region’s housing needs at least 26 months prior to the scheduled revision of the housing element, as provided.
This bill, except as specified, would extend the above-described timeline for the department to determine the existing and projected need of housing for each region from 2 years to 3 years prior to the scheduled revision of the housing element. The bill would require the department to meet and consult with the council of governments, as described above, pursuant to prescribed deadlines. For the 7th revision of the housing element, the bill would require the department to meet and consult with each council of governments at least 38 months prior to the scheduled revision, except for specified councils of governments. For the 8th and subsequent revision of the housing element, the bill would require the department to meet and consult with each council of governments at least 38 months prior to the scheduled revision.
(3)Existing law authorizes at least 2 or more cities and a county, or counties, at least 28 months prior to the scheduled housing element revision, to form a subregional entity to allocate the subregion’s existing and projected housing need among its members. If the council of governments does not receive a notification of this formation at least 28 months prior to the update, existing law requires the council of governments to implement specified requirements regarding the regional housing need process. Existing law requires the council of governments to determine the share of regional housing need assigned to each delegate subregion at least 25 months prior to the scheduled revision.
This bill would extend the above-described timeline for cities and counties to form a subregional entity to allocate the subregion’s housing need, as provided, from 28 months to 34 months, and the above-described timeline for the council of governments to determine the share of regional housing need assigned to each subregion from 25 months to 31 months, respectively.
(4)Existing law, at least 2 years before a scheduled revision of the housing element, as specified, requires each council of governments, or delegate subregion as applicable, to develop, in consultation with the department, a proposed methodology for distributing the existing and projected regional housing need to jurisdictions, as specified. Existing law, at least 1 12 years before a scheduled revision of the housing element, as specified, requires each council of governments and delegate subregion, as applicable, to distribute a draft allocation of regional housing needs to each local government in the region or subregion, where applicable, and the department, as specified.
This bill, except with respect to the 7th housing element cycle for councils of governments with a housing element revision due date during the 2027 calendar year, would instead require that the above-described methodology be developed from at least 2 12 years before a scheduled revision of the housing element, and that the distribution of the draft allocation plan be made at least 2 years before a scheduled revision of the housing element, respectively.
(5)Existing law requires a planning agency to submit a copy of its draft housing element or amendments to its housing element or housing element revision to the department for review, and requires the department to notify the city, county, or city and county with written findings if the department finds that the housing element or the amendment does not substantially comply with specified law. If the department finds that the draft housing element or draft amendment is not in substantial compliance, existing law requires the jurisdiction to either update the draft to substantially comply with specified law, or adopt the draft housing element or amendment without changes, as provided.
This bill would require the department, if the department finds that a draft element or draft amendment does not substantially comply, as described above, to (A) identify and explain the specific deficiencies in the draft element or draft amendment and (B) provide the specific analysis or text that the department expects the planning agency to include in the draft element or draft amendment to remedy those deficiencies, as specified. The bill would require a jurisdiction, in updating a noncompliant housing element or amendment under the above-described provisions, to include the specific analysis or text in its draft element or amendment.
(6)This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 65583 of the Government Code proposed by SB 340 and AB 610 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 65584.01 of the Government Code proposed by SB 486 to be operative only if this bill and SB 486 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 65584.03 of the Government Code proposed by AB 1275 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1275 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 65584.04 of the Government Code proposed by SB 486 and AB 1275 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 65585 of the Government Code proposed by AB 507 to be operative only if this bill and AB 507 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.
(7)By imposing additional duties on local governments, this bill would create a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Summary from the Legislative Counsel's Digest of the enrolled text, September 15, 2025. Read the full text on leginfo.
How it got here
Assemblymember Papan introduced AB 650 on February 13, 2025, with coauthors Assembly Members Pacheco, Haney, and Wicks. The text was amended 5 times, 2 in the Assembly and 3 in the Senate, and heard in 7 committee hearings before its final floor votes.
- Assembly Floor, June 2, 2025: 79 ayes, 0 noes.
- Senate Floor, September 10, 2025: 40 ayes, 0 noes.
- Assembly Floor, September 11, 2025: 80 ayes, 0 noes.
Committee votes along the way:
- Assembly Housing and Community Development, April 24, 2025: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Local Government], 11-0.
- Assembly Local Government, April 30, 2025: Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations], 9-0.
- Assembly Appropriations, May 23, 2025: Do pass., 14-0.
- Senate Housing, July 1, 2025: Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar, 11-0.
- Senate Appropriations, July 14, 2025: Placed on suspense file, 7-0.
- Senate Appropriations, August 29, 2025: Do pass as amended, 7-0.
Who supports and opposes AB 650
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated September 8, 2025 lists 44 organizations in support and 0 in opposition. When Assembly Housing and Community Development first listed positions on April 22, 2025, the count was 43 in support and 6 opposed. By the Senate Floor Analyses analysis of September 8, 2025 it was 44 to 0.
In support: California Housing Consortium; California State Association of Counties; Cities Association of Santa Clara County; City of Tustin; City of Bakersfield; City of Belmont; City of Carson; City of Chino Hills; and 36 more.
Read the Senate Floor Analyses analysis.
What happens next
The Governor vetoed it, with the last recorded action on January 22, 2026.
The Governor can sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Until the decision, sign and veto request letters are the remaining channel, and the Department of Finance's enrolled bill report carries weight on anything with a fiscal effect. If signed, most provisions take effect January 1, and implementation moves to the agencies named in the bill.
What it means for housing organizations
A vetoed bill usually returns. The veto message is the clearest statement of what a successor would have to change, and the interval before it is reintroduced is when that language gets negotiated.
The housing group at Capitol Axis handles that for housing clients.
Questions about AB 650
What does AB 650 do?
This bill would require the department to develop the above-described standardized reporting format on or before December 31, 2026.
Has AB 650 passed the California Legislature?
The Governor vetoed it, with the last recorded action on January 22, 2026.
Who supports and opposes AB 650?
The Senate Floor Analyses analysis dated September 8, 2025 lists 44 organizations in support and 0 in opposition. Supporters include California Housing Consortium; California State Association of Counties; Cities Association of Santa Clara County.
What happens next with AB 650?
A veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses, which is rare. The usual path is a successor bill in the next session, and the veto message is the clearest guide to what that bill would have to change.