CA AB712

Entitles housing development applicants to reasonable attorney's fees and costs when they prevail in lawsuits against public agencies for violating housing reform laws

Requires courts to impose minimum fines of $50,000 per violation for projects of 4 or fewer units, or higher minimum fines for larger projects, when the local agency was previously warned in writing by the Attorney General or Department of Housing and Community Development

Multiplies fines by a factor of five when a court has previously found the same local agency violated the same housing reform law within the same planning period

Extends any statute of limitations by 60 days after an applicant provides written notice to a local agency of intent to sue, which must be given at least 60 days before filing

Prohibits public agencies from requiring housing development applicants to indemnify, defend, or hold harmless the agency in lawsuits alleging the agency violated housing reform laws, declaring any such requirements void and unenforceable