California State Multi-family Housing Bill & Relation to Land Value Taxation

And in the summary:
This bill establishes the Multifamily Housing Design Charrette Grants Program within the
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The program will provide
competitive grants to qualified entities — such as design firms, nonprofits, universities, and local
governments — to organize and conduct design charrettes that generate innovative, feasible, and
community-informed design concepts for multifamily housing developments.

The full bill, which needs a senate sponsor, builds upon a recently passed pro-housing YIMBY type bill – https://cayimby.org/legislation/sb-79/, is below:

SENATE BILL No. _ Introduced by Senator ABC Principal coauthor: Senator ABC Date: MM/DD/YYYY An act to add Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 50825) to Part 2 of Division 31 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to Community Development Block Grant Program Funds. . LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST SB _, as introduced, [Your Last Name]. Multifamily Housing Design Charrette Grants
Program.
Existing law establishes various programs administered by the Department of Housing and
Community Development to promote housing development and planning across the state,
including programs to support affordable housing and community design initiatives.
This bill would establish the Multifamily Housing Design Charrette Grants Program, to be
administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, for the purpose of
providing competitive grants to qualified companies, nonprofit organizations, or local entities to
conduct design charrettes that produce innovative, feasible, and community-informed designs for
multifamily housing developments. The bill would authorize the department to develop program
guidelines, application procedures, and evaluation criteria. The bill would also require the
department to report annually to the Legislature on the implementation and outcomes of the
program.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) California faces a severe shortage of affordable and market-rate multifamily housing units,
including but not limited to 1-bedroom houses, 2-bedroom houses, 3 bedroom houses,
townhomes, apartment buildings, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and multiplexes. This results in
rising costs, displacement, and overcrowding.
(b) Design charrettes are collaborative, multi-disciplinary workshops that engage architects,
developers, community members, and public officials to create efficient, livable, and context-
sensitive housing solutions.
(c) Supporting the use of design charrettes can accelerate the creation of high-quality housing
designs that align with state and local planning goals.
(d) It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to establish a state program that funds the
organization and facilitation of multifamily housing design charrettes.
SEC. 2. Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 50795) is added to Part 2 of Division 31 of the
Health and Safety Code, to read:
CHAPTER 13. Multifamily Housing Design Charrette Grants Program

1. (a) The Multifamily Housing Design Charrette Grants Program is hereby established
   within the Department of Housing and Community Development.
   (b) The purpose of the program is to provide competitive grants to eligible entities for
   the organization and facilitation of design charrettes that result in innovative, feasible,
   and community-informed design concepts for multifamily housing developments.
2. For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:
   (a) “Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development.
   (b) “Design charrette” means a structured, collaborative design session that brings
   together developers, architects, planners, community stakeholders, and public agencies to
   produce preliminary design concepts for multifamily housing.
   (c) “Eligible entity” means a company, nonprofit organization, local government,
   university, or design consortium with demonstrated experience in housing design,
   community planning, or architectural facilitation.
3. (a) The department shall develop program guidelines that include, but are not limited to:
   (1) Application and eligibility requirements.
   (2) Criteria for evaluating proposals, including community engagement, design
   innovation, affordability, and feasibility.
   (3) Allowable uses of grant funds, which may include facilitation costs, stakeholder
   engagement, technical design services, and documentation of outcomes.
   (b) The department may prioritize applications that:
   (1) Address housing needs in high-cost or underbuilt regions.
   (2) Include participation from underrepresented communities or smaller jurisdictions.
   (3) Incorporate sustainable and climate-resilient design principles.
4. (a) Grants awarded under this chapter shall not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars
   ($250,000) per recipient, unless otherwise authorized by the department.
   (b) The department may require recipients to provide matching funds or in-kind
   contributions.
5. (a) The department shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislature, in
   compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, summarizing program activities,
   grant recipients, and housing design outcomes.
   (b) The department may adopt regulations or guidelines necessary to implement this
   chapter.
6. Implementation of this program is contingent upon appropriation by the Legislature of
   funds for these purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute.
   SEC. 3. This act shall become operative on January 1, [next calendar year].
   BILL SUMMARY
   Senate Bill No. _ — [Your Last Name] Subject: Multifamily Housing Design Charrette Grants Program SUMMARY: This bill establishes the Multifamily Housing Design Charrette Grants Program within the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The program will provide competitive grants to qualified entities — such as design firms, nonprofits, universities, and local governments — to organize and conduct design charrettes that generate innovative, feasible, and community-informed design concepts for multifamily housing developments. EXISTING LAW: Existing state housing programs administered by HCD focus on affordable housing production, planning grants, and community development initiatives. However, current law does not provide funding specifically dedicated to collaborative design charrettes that integrate planning, architecture, and community participation in early-stage multifamily housing development. THIS BILL: SB _ would:
7. Create the Multifamily Housing Design Charrette Grants Program in HCD.
8. Define key terms including “design charrette” and “eligible entity.”
9. Authorize HCD to establish application procedures, selection criteria, and reporting
   requirements.
10. Allow grants of up to $250,000 per recipient, with possible matching fund requirements.
11. Require annual reporting to the Legislature on program outcomes.
12. Make implementation contingent upon legislative appropriation.
    FISCAL EFFECT:

Provides equitable opportunities for small or under-resourced jurisdictions to access
design expertise.

Fiscal Committee: Yes.

Potential annual General Fund or special fund appropriation to HCD, subject to budget
act approval.

Administrative costs for HCD to develop and manage grant guidelines and reporting.
BACKGROUND:
California continues to experience a housing shortage, particularly in high-demand regions.
Design charrettes are collaborative, multi-disciplinary workshops used to generate site-specific
housing solutions that balance design quality, cost, and community input. By funding these
sessions, the state can encourage early-stage design collaboration that aligns with planning goals,
environmental standards, and affordability targets.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS:

Encourages innovative and community-supported design.

May expedite predevelopment phases of multifamily projects.