When a new housing project is being completed, the developer must pay fees to cover the cost of connecting to local utilities, like water, sewer, gas, and electric. These utility fees are a normal part of the homebuilding process. But…
SB 1470
Historically, ownership condominiums have played a major role in providing affordable “starter homes” for first-time homebuyers. Condominiums are on average 2.7 times less expensive than a typical, single-family home. But current legal practices in settling disputes over construction defects in…
SB 1462
Condominiums have historically provided more affordable starter-homes for first-time homebuyers, but some aspects of state law make it difficult to finance condo projects, discouraging their construction. SB 1462 will allow condo developers to use deposits made by buyers during the…
AB 2144
The fees charged by local jurisdictions in California for new homes are often unpredictable, and can vary widely by city and by project. This lack of transparency – and the risk of facing sudden, unbudgeted fees for new homes –…
SCA 1
In 1950, California voters passed a ballot measure that added Article 34 to the state constitution. Article 34 prevents cities from building low rent housing projects unless a local ballot measure is passed. Senate Constitutional Amendment (SCA) 1 would begin…
Proposition 16 – Return of Racial Equity in Policy-Making
This initiative would have ended California’s ban on affirmative action, which would have made race-conscious housing justice remedies more feasible. It failed at the November 2020 election with 42.77% of voters approving and 57.23% of voters opposing.
Proposition 15
Proposition 15 (2020), or the Schools and Communities First Act, would have closed a corporate tax loophole that allows large corporations to avoid paying property taxes at current rates on properties they own. This measure would have reclaimed $11 billion…
SB 9
California has a severe shortage of middle-income housing or small (fewer than 10 homes) multi-family housing developments near jobs and transit; the lack of such housing is driving the displacement and severe rent burden of Californians across the state. The…
SB 4 – Affordable Housing on Faith Lands Act
SB 4, the Affordable Housing on Faith Lands Act, provides a streamlined process for religious organizations and nonprofit colleges to develop affordable housing on their property. Many of California’s faith-based organizations and non-profit colleges are located on lands where multifamily…
SB 330
SB 330 prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting new laws that would have the effect of reducing the legal limit on new housing within their borders, or delay new housing via administrative or other regulatory barriers. Through its expiration in 2030,…