Smaller Silicon Valley Cities ask for pause in flood of new housing demands by the State
The Mayors of Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Campbell, Saratoga, and Milpitas ask Speaker Rivas for a temporary halt to the flood of new state housing demands and policies, so they can figure out what works and what doesn't--and save their staffs from administrative overload. Edited May 7, 2026 letter below.
Dear Speaker Rivas,
On behalf of our respective cities, we are writing to respectfully request your leadership in considering a temporary pause on the passage of new housing legislation while the Legislature undertakes a comprehensive review of the significant body of housing laws enacted in recent years.
Your suggestion to examine what is working and what is not within our existing statutory framework is both timely and prudent. Over the past several years, nearly 150 housing-related bills have been signed into law, with approximately 50 new housing measures enacted in 2025 alone.
Many of the 2025 measures went into effect with the Governor’s approval of the budget. This extraordinary pace reflects the Legislature’s strong commitment to addressing California’s housing challenges.
However, the volume and speed of these changes have created substantial implementation pressures for local governments charged with carrying them out.
City governments across the state are increasingly overwhelmed by the continuous stream of new housing legislation introduced and enacted each legislative cycle. Planning departments, housing divisions, and legal teams are working diligently to interpret, integrate, and operationalize new requirements, often while prior mandates are still in early stages of implementation.
The result is a growing strain on administrative capacity, limited opportunity to evaluate outcomes, and difficulty ensuring consistent and effective application of state policy. Our state and regional agencies are attempting to provide technical assistance related to implementation but that is also delayed with the quantity of new mandates. Guidance on implementation often comes six months to a year after the mandate is in effect.
A deliberate pause would not signal retreat from the state’s housing goals. Rather, it would demonstrate a commitment to thoughtful governance and evidence-based policymaking.
Taking the next two years to refrain from enacting additional housing statutes would provide the Legislature, in partnership with local governments and stakeholders, with the opportunity to:
Review housing laws passed within the last four years
Evaluate measurable outcomes and unintended consequences
Identify redundancies, conflicts, or areas requiring clarification
Assess administrative and fiscal impacts on local jurisdictions
Strengthen and refine existing statutes where necessary
Such a review would help ensure that California’s housing framework is coherent, effective, and sustainable. It would also allow local municipalities to focus on full and faithful implementation of existing mandates rather than continuously adjusting to new ones.
Your leadership in advancing a structured review process could foster collaboration between the State and local governments, strengthen public confidence, and ultimately produce more durable and impactful housing policy.
Thank you for your continued commitment to addressing California’s housing needs and for considering this request. We appreciate your thoughtful attention to this matter and your ongoing service to the people of California.
Sincerely,
Mark Turner, Mayor City of Morgan Hill
Greg Bozzo, Mayor City of Gilroy
Daniel E. Furtado, Mayor City of Campbell
Chuck Page, Mayor City of Saratoga
Carmen Montana, Mayor City of Milpitas
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