Gov. Jerry Brown’s top priority? Pushing a series of housing bills through the state legislature in August, he announced this week.
Whether the plan will pass is not yet known. The bills would create a new state funding source for low-income developments, introduce a bond measure to subsidize low-income projects and ease regulations for building homes, the Los Angeles Times reported. Brown, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon are backing the legislation.
While the details are scarce, Assemblyman Rob Bonta said conversations about the package have focused on four parts:
- Senate Bill 2, which would charge a $75 fee on real estate transactions to raise $250 million a year for low-income developments
- Senate Bill 3, which would place a $3 billion housing bond on the 2018 state ballot
- Senate Bill 35, which would force cities that haven’t met state goals for home building to ease development regulations
- Placing a larger share of funds raised by cap-and-trade auctions, where businesses pay to pollute, for housing projects
The three bills have passed the Senate and are awaiting a decision in the Assembly, according to the L.A. Times. [LAT] — Subrina Hudson