Appropriations committee advances AB 1061 to let SB 9 projects proceed in historic districts with limits

The Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced Assembly Bill 1061 on April 30, 2025. AB 1061 would allow projects enabled by SB 9 (2021) — duplexes and parcel splits — to apply in historic districts so long as projects do not demolish individually listed historic structures and maintain the street-facing appearance of contributing homes.

Supporters told the committee the change is intended to prevent the use of historic-preservation status to block new housing while preserving recognized historic buildings. Max Tubler, policy manager at California YIMBY, told the committee AB 1061 “balances housing production and historic preservation” by forbidding SB 9 projects at individually listed historic sites and requiring maintenance of street-facing appearances for homes that contribute to historic districts. The bill’s presenter said the measure is intended to expand opportunities for homeownership and multiunit housing in more neighborhoods.

The author and supporters said the bill would have minimal fiscal impact because local governments may recover planning costs through normal planning fees. Committee discussion did not add new fiscal changes on the record.

The committee recorded the bill as moving forward on an Assembly roll call; the transcript records Assemblymember Alanis voting aye and Assemblymember Hart not voting. The full vote tally was not specified in the hearing record.

Why it matters: SB 9, enacted in 2021, removed some local barriers to small-scale housing production. AB 1061 would narrow a common exclusion (historic districts) so that SB 9-style development can be used in more neighborhoods while protecting individually designated historic resources.

What’s next: With the committee’s action the bill is cleared for the next stage of the legislative process; the hearing record did not include final floor action or additional amendments.