Capitol Update – June 16, 2023
By Ray Perez
The Budget
The California legislative year is reaching its halfway point, which means it is a critical time for lawmakers. June 15th marks the constitutional deadline for enacting the 2023-24 state budget in California. This week, the Democrat-led State Legislature reached a preliminary agreement on a joint version of the state budget, which you can access here. Had the Legislature failed to meet this deadline they would have risked not getting paid. Since the Senate and the Assembly hold Democrat majorities, they have the power to pass the budget without Republican support.
It is important to note that the budget enacted by the Legislature is not expected to be the final plan for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1. According to Cal Matters, the state is facing significant challenges in terms of revenue decline, resulting in not only a multi-billion-dollar deficit for the upcoming year, but also the likelihood of ongoing budget gaps for several years to come.
A recent report on the state’s fiscal issues highlights projected annual deficits that could average $18 billion over the next three years. These deficits pose a substantial concern and emphasize the need for careful consideration and planning to address California’s financial challenges effectively.
Key WMA Bills Will be Heard in Committee
Assembly Bill 1334 (Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz)
This bill, which is supported by WMA, will encourage construction of new spaces in existing manufactured housing communities by exempting up to ten percent of new development from local fees and taxes. As attainable housing continues to be a significant challenge in California, Assembly Bill 1334 will enable parkowners to increase the supply of housing opportunities across the state. This bill is scheduled to be heard in Senate Housing on Tuesday, June 20th at 9:00 a.m. To read the current version of this bill, please click here.
Assembly Bill 319 (Connolly, D-San Rafael)
This bill, which is also supported by WMA, will require inspectors employed by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to file statements of economic interest with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) to ensure inspectors disclose financial interests in parks or properties near parks they inspect. This legislation also extends the Mobilehome Parks Act (MPA) by one year. This bill is scheduled to be heard in Senate Housing on Tuesday, June 20th at 9:00 a.m. To read the current version of this bill, please click here.
Assembly Bill 604 (Lee, D-San Jose)
This bill would extend the provisions of Assembly Bill 1061 that was authored by Assemblymember Lee in 2021 to water companies regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. WMA is strongly opposed to this measure and will continue to lobby against its passage. This bill is scheduled to be heard in Senate Judiciary on Tuesday, June 20th at 1:30 p.m. To read the current version of this bill, please click here.
Assembly Bill 318 (Addis, D-Morro Bay)
This bill would extend the Mobilehome Residency Law Protection Program (MRLPP) for another three years. Given that WMA led efforts to require the State Auditor to conduct a thorough review of the MRLPP, WMA has recommended a one-year extension of the program to allow the Auditor to complete its audit that should be concluded by the end of 2023. WMA continues to work with the author and the Senate Judiciary Committee to amend the bill. To read the current version of this bill, please click here.
Be on the Look Out: Assembly Bill 1334
Please keep an eye out for requests from WMA’s Legislative Team to engage with the Senate Housing Committee regarding Assembly Bill 1334 using Voter Voice.
Voter Voice is a tool WMA uses to put our members in direct contact with legislators, and clicking on the links you receive will allow you to write or call legislators on many bills, more specifically Assembly Bill 1334.
Assembly Bill 1334 gives the mobilehome community the opportunity to be a solution to California’s housing crisis. This bill will encourage construction of new spaces in existing manufactured housing communities by exempting up to ten percent of new development from local fees and taxes.
Please be on the lookout for an email from Voter Voice that will allow you to engage with legislators on the Senate Housing committee.
If you have any questions or comments please reach out to Ray Perez (ray@wma.org), Legislative Assistant while Chris Wysocki is out of the office.
