California Assembly Bill AB1573

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/12/26
• Refer: 2/9/26
• Report Pass: 3/16/26
• Refer: 3/17/26
• Report Pass: 3/25/26
• Refer: 3/25/26
• Report Pass: 4/23/26
• Engrossed: 5/4/26
• Refer: 5/5/26
• Refer: 5/13/26
• Report Pass: 6/1/26
• Refer: 6/1/26

Caption

An act to amend Section 65582 of the Government Code, relating to land use.

Summary

AB 1573 would amend California’s Planning and Zoning Law definition of “target population” for housing element purposes. Under current law, cities and counties must include in their housing elements an analysis of housing needs for certain special populations, including low-income persons with disabilities and people eligible for developmental disability services. This bill would expand that definition so it may also include victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, along with other already-recognized groups such as veterans, homeless people, youth aging out of foster care, and people exiting institutions. In practical terms, the bill would direct local governments to consider these additional populations when planning for supportive housing, emergency shelter, and related housing needs in their general plans. Because it adds requirements tied to local housing element preparation and updates, the bill is treated as creating a state-mandated local program. It also includes a reimbursement provision stating that if the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill imposes reimbursable costs, the state would reimburse local agencies and school districts under existing mandate procedures.

Impact

The bill amends Government Code Section 65582, which supplies definitions used in the Housing Element Law. The main legal effect is to broaden the range of people local governments may account for when analyzing special housing needs in housing elements, especially survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. It does not create a new standalone housing program, but it changes the planning framework that cities and counties must use when preparing general plans and housing elements, potentially affecting local housing inventories, policy choices, and compliance reviews by the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broad support and little visible opposition. It passed committee and floor votes unanimously, including 12-0, 10-0, and 73-0 votes, and was placed on the consent calendar. The available record suggests the measure was viewed as a straightforward housing-planning update focused on vulnerable populations rather than a controversial policy shift.

Contention

No substantive contention is reflected in the available committee or floor history. The only notable issue is the mandate/reimbursement question: because the bill may require local governments to do additional housing-element work, it is classified as a state-mandated local program, with reimbursement dependent on a Commission on State Mandates determination. Otherwise, the measure’s expansion of the target population to include survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking appears to have been noncontroversial.