Senate Standing Committee on Housing

Quorum, and we will go out of order and we'll hear item two, SB seven, by Senator Blakespear first. Go ahead, Senator Blakespear.

Thank you, Chair and colleagues. I am pleased to present SB seven, which will make minor changes to the regional housing needs allocation, or RHNA, development process. These changes are based on findings from the Department of Housing and Community Development, or HCD in their RHNA evaluation.

SB seven will require councils of governments to specifically solicit participation from people with special housing needs, including people who are unhoused in the development of RHNA methodologies. Additionally, SB seven will simplify steps in the process and align the statute closer to how it is currently being applied.

Overall, these changes will strengthen the RHNA process and clarify the statute. I don't know if I have a witness here with me today, but I don't see her.

It's okay. You can just.

I will respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Great. All right. When we have the ability to with a quorum, then the motion that I would entertain is that Assembly amendments be concurred in. So, we'll now just wait until we can get our. Oh, of course you can. I didn't see you put your hand up.

So, it says that this bill prohibits a city or county from filing an objection to the, the RHNA process in regions in which HCD is required to act. Is that because they've already acted and they've already determined?

So, it's important to remember that this bill deals with the RHNA allocation that comes from the state to the COG.

Right.

And then it goes from the COG to the cities. So, this. And counties. So, the cities and counties are able to participate in a challenge when it comes from the COG, but not to intervene when it's coming from the state to the COG. So, it's basically important to recognize what level that is dealing with.

But the COG is the go-between, between the state and the cities. Without the COG, in areas that don't have it, who's their? Who do they object to? Who do they make an argument to that their RHNA allocation is unfair?

I don't think there are cities that don't have a go-between between the state and the city. So, I don't know if it's the county that's acting in that role or if all jurisdictions have a COG, but I don't think it goes directly from a state to a city.

So, that wouldn't even apply because no county or city doesn't have a COG that they belong to?

Or equal.

Why is the language even in there? I'm just curious.

I think the need was to clarify that the cities don't have a right to intervene between the state and the COG. So, that's the identified problem that this is solving.

So, only the COG can intervene with the state or make an objection. But if the city and the cog don't agree, the city doesn't get to make their objection to HCD?

I mean, the cog is made up of the cities.

Oh, I know it's made up of several cities, but one city may object. Sometimes all the cities in the COG do not represent a city.

Right. Well.

So, they can gang up on that city and make it really difficult for them. And that's. I think we need to ensure that cities have every avenue to address their concerns, especially when it relates to this.

Right. I mean, I think, in general, having a process where there's an ability to participate, and then the body makes a decision and then the next level makes a decision is how we've distributed responsibility here. So, we don't want to have the ability to intervene for all parties at all levels.

So, to me, this does make sense as a process. Thank you, chair, for giving the opportunity for questioning of this bill.

Certainly. Anyone else have any questions on it? I didn't ask for those testifying in support, is there anyone who wants to come to the mic?

Oh, my witness is here, so do you mind if she gives her?

Sure, sure.

Yes. This is Holly.

Let me take quorum first. And then please call the roll.

[Roll call]

Say here. Okay, we now have quorum. Our witness can.

[Roll call] We have a quorum.

Okay, we can now have our witness in support. Go ahead.

Holly Fraumeni DeJesus, Lighthouse Public Affairs, on behalf of the Inner-City Law Center and SPUR in support, just recommend an aye vote. These are great recommendations from HCDE and the best thing we can do to help build more housing is help enforce the housing element and the planning process that's happening at the city level. So, thank you. Urge your support.

Great, thank you. Anyone else here in support? Is there anyone here in opposition? No, seeing none. And again, I'll see if there's any questions. We did it out of order and we did the second bill first, which is Senator Blakespear's. And I have an. Excuse me.

I have an aye recommendation, and I will now entertain a motion that the Assembly amendments be concurred in. All right. Menjivar moves. Sorry. May we have the roll call, please? Or. Excuse me. Would you like to close?

I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Thank you very much. Now we'll do roll call.

This is Senate Bill seven by Senator Blakespear. The motion is that the Assembly amendments be concurred in. [Roll call]

All right, we'll leave that bill on call. And anybody have Miss Schiavo's number? Text her because she's keeping us from dinner. I've been testing myself.

I know. I was standing there typing. Couldn't walk.

Welcome, assembly member. We are ready and eager to hear your bill. AB 535. And you may proceed.

Thank you so much, Madam Chair and Senators, California has made great strides in reducing the number of veterans experiencing homelessness.

Thanks to my colleague from Encino, a significant step was taken last year towards expanding eligibility of veterans to the Veteran Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program, or VHPP, to account for the additional income veterans may receive through disability benefits.

Even more recently, federal regulatory changes have excluded veterans' disability benefits from income calculations for determining eligibility for veterans' supportive housing vouchers. However, without conforming VHPP to those changes, veterans who would now be eligible for federal housing vouchers will find themselves turned away yet again from California's veteran housing programs because of their disability benefits.

AB 535 is a necessary and simple fix that will clear the way, clear away any obstacles to getting veterans into needed supportive housing. Respectfully request an aye vote.

Thank you. Do you have any witnesses that.

No.

All right. Are there any witnesses here who would like to speak in support of the bill? Okay, anybody in opposition to AB 535? Okay. Seeing none. We have a motion. The motion is do pass to approps. Any questions? Does anyone on the dais have questions for Assembly Member Schiavo? We already got a move.

Well, I wish I had a really searing question, but I don't.

Okay, so you may close, Assembly Member.

Respectfully request an aye vote. Thank you very much.

Excellent. We will now do a roll call. Again, the motion is do pass to Appropriations.

[Roll call] It's 10 to zero.

All right, that bill is out or. Excuse me. We're gonna keep the roll open. Let me reopen the roll for the bill for the absent Members. So, we'll reopen the roll on Miss Blakespear's bill, SB seven. Please call the absent Members.

Current vote is seven to one. [Roll call]. Eight to one.

All right, so we are awaiting just Senator. Okay.

Perfect.

Thanks, Steve. All right, we are going to open the roll first on AB 535, item one by Assembly Member Schiavo. And the motion was do pass to appropriations. Absent Members call.

The current vote is 10 to zero. [Roll call] 11 to zero.

Excellent. That bill is out. 10 to zero. AB 535 out 10 to zero. Now, we'll open the roll on SB seven. And the motion there was, the Assembly amendments be concurred in and call the absent Member.

Current vote is eight to one. [Roll call] Eight to two.

All right, that bill is out, SB seven. And the vote was eight to two. Okay. And with that, our Housing Committee is adjourned. Thank you, staff. Yeah. Good.