SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senator Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach) has introduced Senate Bill 979, which would reform California’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) process to ensure fairness, greater transparency on how housing targets are calculated, and meaningful local control in determining housing goals for cities and counties before they are finalized. The City of Huntington Beach is a sponsor of Senator Strickland’s legislation.
The RHNA process sets housing targets for local governments across the state. Often, these targets are unrealistic and unfair, straining infrastructure, overwhelming local resources, and limiting residents’ voices in planning decisions.
“Local governments and the residents who live there know their communities best,” said Senator Strickland. “Housing policies must not be one-size-fits-all. They must respect local priorities, infrastructure readiness, and community character. Additionally, fairness and local input must guide these decisions.”
SB 979 would:
Allow cities and counties to appeal RHNA determinations in court if they are arbitrary, inequitable, unsupported by data, or inconsistent with state law.
Provide local governments with an independent review, instead of forcing them to appeal to the same body that made the original RHNA decision.
“The City of Huntington Beach is pleased to sponsor Senator Strickland’s legislation, which promotes a more balanced and responsible approach to housing planning while recognizing both local and statewide interests. SB 979 represents a meaningful step forward by giving cities a clear path to timely judicial review when regional housing needs allocations raise legal or procedural concerns, helping ensure housing targets are fair, transparent, and grounded in sound planning,” said Huntington Beach Mayor Casey McKeon.
The City of Huntington Beach proudly supports SB 979, which would bring fair and sound improvements to California’s housing planning framework. SB 979 clarifies that final determinations on regional housing needs allocations by councils of governments or delegated subregions are subject to judicial review, ensuring accountability and transparent legal oversight of decisions that profoundly affect local planning responsibilities under the Planning and Zoning Law.
“California can meet its housing needs without overriding the voice of local communities,” Senator Strickland added. “Fairness and local control aren’t just principles. I believe they’re essential to responsible growth and livable neighborhoods.”