CA AB309

Creates the Social Housing Program within the Department of General Services to develop up to three qualified social housing projects on state property to address California's housing crisis.

Requires the program to prioritize bids demonstrating long-term revenue neutrality or cost rent models and employ both rental and ownership housing models.

In rental model, program strives to ensure residents pay no more than 30 percent of income for housing; in ownership model, units can be sold after minimum five years of owner-occupancy with program retaining right of first refusal.

Prohibits cities and counties from denying qualified social housing developments but allows them to propose objective design review standards (without floor area ratios, height limits, or density requirements) and modifications to mitigate specific adverse public health or safety impacts within 90 days of receiving plans.

Protects social housing units from privatization by requiring public entity ownership, provides residents tenant protections including just-cause eviction protections, and grants residents meaningful participation in housing management decisions.