Key State Affordable Housing Bills Signed Into Law

We are pleased to report that, on July 1, Governor Brown signed into law SB 873 (Beall). This legislation increases the value of the State Low Income Housing Tax Credit by allowing credits to be “certificated” by nonprofit affordable developers. The legislation was cosponsored by State Treasurer John Chiang and the California Housing Partnership Corporation (CHPC) and supported by NPH. Find details here

Governor Brown also signed into law AB 1618, the legislative vehicle for Senate President pro Tem Kevin de Leon’s “No Place Like Home” Initiative. This important measure will provide $2 billion for the construction of permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals with mental illness. Find more information here 

Meanwhile, other priority affordable housing bills continue to move through the legislative process and toward Governor Brown’s desk. The Legislature is currently on Summer Recess and will reconvene on August 1. Find the legislative calendar and deadlines here. 

AB 2031 (Bonta and Atkins), cosponsored by NPH and the City of Oakland, is legislation to authorize local jurisdictions to issue affordable housing bonds against the revenue stream of “boomerang funds” which are a portion of “net available revenue” received by cities and counties after the dissolution of redevelopment. The bill does not redirect property taxes from any other taxing entity and has no state general fund impact. AB 2031 was approved by the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on June 29 and will be taken up on the Senate floor in August when the Legislature reconvenes after the summer recess.

SB 1413 (Leno) is an act to clarify that K-12 school districts may develop affordable housing for school employees on district-owned land. The bill is cosponsored by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and NPH and is now awaiting a vote on the Assembly floor in August when the Legislature reconvenes after the summer recess.

AB 2817 (Chiu) is cosponsored by NPH and currently sits in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill would both increase the value of the State Low Income Housing Tax Credit and increase the annual amount of available credits by $300 million per year.

SB 879 (Beall), the Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2016, would authorize a statewide $3 billion affordable housing bond to be placed on the November 8, 2016 presidential election ballot. The bill has two Republican coauthors. Placing this proposition on the statewide ballot requires 2/3rds majority votes in the Legislature and a signature by Governor Brown. The act is currently on the suspense file in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

AB 2176 (Campos) is a measure to provide flexibility to the City of San Jose in addressing the local shelter crisis that has caused homelessness and outdoor encampments by providing a waiver of state building codes that would allow the development of emergency bridge housing communities on a temporary basis while permanent supportive homes are developed for the homeless. NPH provided technical assistance and support for this bill and it has received unanimous support throughout the legislative process.

Our next NPH Legislative Issues Committee Meeting will take place on Thursday, August 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Please plan to join us!