Policy & Legislation
New Housing Laws for 2008 (Part II)
March 4, 2008The legislature and governor enacted two urgency measures in the 2007 legislative session to flesh-out programs created by Proposition 1C. Unlike non-urgency measures, which become law on January 1 of the following year, urgency measures become law the day they are signed.
SB 586 (Dutton), was enacted into law on October 13, 2007, to allocate the bond's $100 million for "innovative financing" to four new and existing programs:
- $50 million for short-term loans for property acquisitions (expected Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA): Winter 2008);
- $35 million for the Local Housing Trust Fund Matching Grant Program (expected Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA): Summer 2008);
- $10 million for a new, undefined homeownership program (expected Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA): Spring 2009); and
- $5 million for a pilot program to reduce developers' insurance costs (expected Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA): Spring 2009).
The Affordable Homes Collaborative, which Housing California convenes, lobbied heavily on this measure and was pleased its top two priorities -- property acquisitions and local trust funds -- received the bulk of the funds.
SB 86 (Budget Committee) was chaptered on August 24, 2007. It specifies how the $850 million for the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program will be spent. Designed to spur infill home development, the new law makes housing-related infrastructure eligible for funding, including streets, parking structures, water and sewer systems, and parks. It also sets spending priorities, with the highest priority for infill home developments that are compact, affordable, and near transit and other amenities.
Housing California teamed up with the Planning and Conservation League to successfully advocate for affordability and smart land use as priorities.
Contact: Narisha Bonakdar, (916) 447-0503 x 109 or .
