This week marks the deadline for bill introductions in both houses of the California Legislature. To date, roughly 700 bills have been submitted, with an estimated 1,200 more expected before the cutoff. In an effort to promote a more thoughtful and deliberate legislative process, Senate Pro Tem Maguire and Assembly Speaker Rivas last year reduced the bill limits, from 50 to 35 in the Assembly and from 40 to 35 in the Senate. Lawmakers and advocates have long argued that the previous volume of bills left too little time for meaningful review of complex proposals requiring negotiations, legal analysis, and coalition-building. Reducing the number of bills aims to strengthen scrutiny and ensure a more robust evaluation of policy.

As the deadline arrives, CCAH is introducing two bills to expand affordable housing production across the state. The first bill responds to a recent building code update requiring all multifamily developments, affordable or not, to install EV‑ready receptacles for every parking space, fully wired to each unit’s electrical panel. This equates to 100% EV‑ready coverage with no exceptions, plus a requirement that 50% of common-area parking include operational Level 2 chargers (EVSE). Our proposal would delay implementation of these requirements for 100% affordable housing developments until 2036, effectively exempting these projects until that time.

CCAH’s second sponsored bill builds on Assemblymember Ward’s 2024 legislation, AB 2352, which allows nonprofit affordable housing developers to withhold property tax payments without penalty while their welfare exemption application is under review. Our bill seeks to expand this flexibility to include projects undergoing changes in ownership or nonprofit partnership, ensuring more developments can avoid unnecessary financial strain while their exemption status is being processed.

As these bills progress through the Legislature, CCAH will be calling on our members to engage, advocate, and help elevate our collective voice. We remain committed to advancing affordable housing and shaping meaningful progress in California’s policy landscape.