SB 1220 (The HOMeS Act) Passes 2 Senate Committees

Lobby Day a Huge Success -- Thank You ALL for Your Hard Work! 

SB 1220 (The HOMeS Act) just overcame its first two hurdles, passing out of the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee and the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. Tuesday was the HOMeS Act Lobby Day and more than 100 people showed up from across the state to meet with legislators, deliver notes of thanks to the bill's authors, and attend the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee hearing.

The Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH) sponsored breakfast and we had team leaders from the San Diego Housing Federation, NPH, Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing (SCANPH), Satellite Housing, East Bay Housing Organizations (EBHO), and the California Coalition for Rural Housing.  There was great energy among the participants, including nearly 50 residents. Supporters for SB 1220 filled nearly every seat in the hearing room and some of the regular Capitol lobbyists jokingly complained that they couldn’t find a seat! The final vote was 6-2-1 in the Transportation and Housing Committee.  

This morning the bill was passed by the Senate Governance and Finance Committee on a 5-2 vote. With Senator Liu absent for the vote, we needed every other Democratic Senator to vote for the bill. With all of the other hearings today, the vote wasn't final until three and a half hours after the hearing began. SB 1220 would not have passed these two committees without the tremendous work that many of you did in the districts, including send postcards, soliciting support from other organizations and meeting with your Senators.  

Next SB 1220 goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee chaired by San Diego Senator Kehoe and that hearing is anticipated in the second half of May.

The votes so far . . . 

We’ll provide more updates soon! 

Shamus Roller
Executive Director
Housing California