Legislative Update – October 2019

On October 9th, during a signing ceremony in Los Angeles, Governor Gavin Newsom approved 18 of this year’s most significant housing bills aimed at reducing barriers to building affordable housing throughout California.

AB 587, the Accessory Dwelling Unit billsponsored by Habitat for Humanity California, introduced by Assemblymember Laura Friedman and co-authored by Assemblymember James Gallagher and Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva allows the sale or separate conveyance of accessory dwelling units, enabling two households to achieve affordable homeownership through responsible use of land. This policy will allow Habitat for Humanity in California and other nonprofit organizations to provide additional homeownership opportunities to families through accessory dwelling units.

Several other housing bills signed into law by Gov. Newsom and supported by Habitat for Humanity California, included SB 330, Establishing the Housing Crisis Act of 2019, by Senator Nancy Skinner, which provides stability and transparency for developers by restricting local changes to building requirements upon permit completion, allowing approved projects to move ahead without new costs or delays; SB 6, Surplus Lands, by Senators Beall and McGuire, and co-authored by Assembly Member Chiu, creating a statewide list of all local lands suitable and available for residential development as identified by local governments; and AB 1486, Public Landsby Senator Ting, and co-authored by Assembly Member Wicks, and Senator Skinner, which prioritizes disposing of local agency unused lands for a affordable housing projects.