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CaliforniaAB 4572025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Farmworker housing: streamlined, ministerial approval: Counties of Fresno, Madera, and Merced.

Sponsored By: Esmeralda Soria (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

55-year affordability for farmworker homes

Eligible housing must be run by a certified affordable housing group or a certified public housing agency. The operator must provide onsite management. The city or county must record an affordability covenant that lasts at least 55 years. Homes must be offered to agricultural employees at rents affordable to lower‑income households.

Bigger farmworker projects in five counties

Eligible projects cannot use dormitory-style housing. Most places cap projects at 36 units or spaces. In Fresno, Madera, Merced, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties, projects can have up to 150 units or spaces. Projects approved under this law are not subject to the separate density limits in Section 17021.6, allowing higher densities when other rules are met.

Faster approvals for farmworker housing projects

If your project meets the law’s location, site, and eligibility rules, the city or county must approve it ministerially. They must send a written list of any unmet rules within 30 days for 50 or fewer units, or 60 days for more than 50 units, or the location rule is treated as met. Local review must be objective and finish in 90 days (50 or fewer units) or 180 days (more than 50 units). These approvals and standards are not discretionary under CEQA. A local agency can deny only for a specific, adverse health or safety impact with no feasible fix that keeps the homes affordable or the project feasible.

Local rules and fees for projects

Local governments can set written, objective standards for water and wastewater capacity. Projects with 10 or more units must connect to a municipal sewer unless the local agency has an approved local agency management program. Road access standards may use collector road distance and traffic counts (within 0.5 mile and ADT 6,000, or adjacent with ADT 2,000). Parking must be based on need and cannot exceed rules for similar homes. Local agencies may charge essential fees needed to provide services to the project.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Esmeralda Soria

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Joaquin Arambula

    Democratic • House

  • Robert Rivas

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 156 • No: 0

Senate vote • 8/25/2025

Item 246 — Senate SFLOOR

Yes: 37 • No: 0

legislature vote • 7/16/2025

Vote in CS82

Yes: 7 • No: 0

legislature vote • 6/17/2025

Vote in CS75

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 5/1/2025

Item 180 — Assembly AFLOOR

Yes: 76 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/23/2025

Vote in CX25

Yes: 15 • No: 0

legislature vote • 4/9/2025

Vote in CX10

Yes: 12 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 490, Statutes of 2025.

    10/10/2025Senate

  2. Approved by the Governor.

    10/10/2025legislature

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

    9/2/2025legislature

  4. In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.

    8/26/2025House

  5. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 2250.).

    8/25/2025Senate

  6. Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

    8/20/2025Senate

  7. From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.

    8/19/2025Senate

  8. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    7/16/2025Senate

  9. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

    6/18/2025Senate

  10. Referred to Coms. on HOUSING and L. GOV.

    5/14/2025Senate

  11. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

    5/1/2025Senate

  12. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 1386.)

    5/1/2025House

  13. Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.

    4/24/2025House

  14. From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 23).

    4/23/2025House

  15. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

    4/9/2025House

  16. Referred to Com. on H. & C.D.

    3/3/2025House

  17. From printer. May be heard in committee March 9.

    2/7/2025House

  18. Read first time. To print.

    2/6/2025House

Bill Text

  • Chaptered

    10/10/2025

    HTML

  • Enrolled

    8/27/2025

    HTML

  • Introduced

    2/6/2025

    HTML

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