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Gov. Gavin Newsom signs new bills aimed to fix California's housing crisis

The article from ABC7 News discusses a series of new bills signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom aimed at addressing the state's ongoing housing crisis. These bills, which were signed on a specific date not mentioned in the article, are part of a broader effort to increase housing production, protect tenants, and streamline the development process. The article provides an overview of the key bills and their intended impacts on California's housing landscape.

One of the most significant bills signed by Governor Newsom is Senate Bill 423, which extends and expands the provisions of Senate Bill 35, a previous law that streamlined the approval process for housing projects in cities that have not met their housing goals. SB 423 removes the sunset date of SB 35, making its provisions permanent, and expands the law to cover more areas of the state. This bill is seen as a critical tool for increasing housing production by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and encouraging developers to build more units.

Another important bill is Assembly Bill 1287, which aims to promote affordable housing by allowing developers to build more units on a given parcel of land if a certain percentage of those units are designated as affordable. This bill is intended to incentivize the construction of affordable housing by providing developers with the ability to increase density in exchange for including affordable units in their projects.

Governor Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 1307, which clarifies and strengthens the provisions of the California Density Bonus Law. This law allows developers to build more units than would normally be allowed under local zoning regulations if they include a certain percentage of affordable housing units. AB 1307 makes it easier for developers to take advantage of these density bonuses, which is expected to lead to an increase in the construction of affordable housing across the state.

In addition to these bills focused on increasing housing production, Governor Newsom also signed several bills aimed at protecting tenants and preventing displacement. One such bill is Assembly Bill 1482, which extends and strengthens California's rent control laws. AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the rate of inflation, with a maximum increase of 10% per year. This bill also provides additional protections for tenants against eviction, requiring landlords to have a just cause for evicting tenants who have lived in their units for more than a year.

Another tenant protection bill signed by Governor Newsom is Senate Bill 567, which expands the state's anti-discrimination laws to include source of income as a protected category. This means that landlords can no longer discriminate against tenants who use housing vouchers or other forms of government assistance to pay their rent. SB 567 is seen as a critical tool for ensuring that low-income families and individuals have equal access to housing opportunities.

Governor Newsom also signed Assembly Bill 1572, which creates a new state program to provide legal assistance to low-income tenants facing eviction. This program, which will be administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, will provide funding to nonprofit organizations that offer free or low-cost legal services to tenants. AB 1572 is intended to help level the playing field for tenants who often face eviction proceedings without legal representation.

In addition to these bills focused on increasing housing production and protecting tenants, Governor Newsom also signed several bills aimed at streamlining the development process and reducing barriers to new construction. One such bill is Senate Bill 4, which allows religious institutions and nonprofit colleges to build affordable housing on their property by right, without the need for discretionary approvals from local governments. This bill is seen as a way to unlock new sources of land for affordable housing development and to encourage faith-based and educational institutions to play a role in addressing the housing crisis.

Another bill aimed at streamlining the development process is Assembly Bill 2011, which allows for the conversion of commercial buildings into residential units in certain circumstances. AB 2011 is intended to help address the housing shortage by making it easier to repurpose existing buildings for residential use, particularly in areas where there is a high demand for housing but a limited supply of developable land.

Governor Newsom also signed Senate Bill 6, which creates a new state program to provide funding for the construction of affordable housing on state-owned land. This program, which will be administered by the California Department of General Services, will make state-owned land available for affordable housing development at below-market rates. SB 6 is seen as a way to leverage state assets to increase the supply of affordable housing and to ensure that state employees and other low-income Californians have access to affordable homes.

In signing these bills, Governor Newsom emphasized the urgency of addressing California's housing crisis and the need for a comprehensive approach that includes increasing housing production, protecting tenants, and streamlining the development process. He also acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead, noting that these bills are just one part of a larger effort to make housing more affordable and accessible for all Californians.

The signing of these bills has been met with praise from housing advocates and industry groups, who see them as a significant step forward in the fight against the housing crisis. However, some local governments and community groups have expressed concerns about the potential impacts of these bills on local control and neighborhood character. They argue that the state should provide more funding and resources to local governments to help them meet their housing goals, rather than imposing new mandates and streamlining measures.

Despite these concerns, the signing of these bills represents a major milestone in California's efforts to address its housing crisis. By increasing housing production, protecting tenants, and streamlining the development process, these bills aim to make housing more affordable and accessible for all Californians. However, it remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in practice and whether they will be enough to solve the state's housing challenges in the long term.

In conclusion, the article from ABC7 News provides a comprehensive overview of the new bills signed by Governor Gavin Newsom to address California's housing crisis. These bills, which focus on increasing housing production, protecting tenants, and streamlining the development process, represent a significant step forward in the state's efforts to make housing more affordable and accessible. However, the article also acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead and the need for continued action at the state and local levels to fully address the housing crisis.

Read the Full ABC7 Article at:
[ https://abc7.com/post/gov-gavin-newsom-signs-new-bills-aimed-fix-californias-housing-crisis/16905121/ ]