A year after the creation of sweeping laws to increase the construction of duplexes and small apartment buildings, California lawmakers have turned their attention to money for affordable housing and easing the burdens of homeownership for first-time buyers.
It's an agenda that has so far drawn less attention and sparked fewer political fights than the one that dominated housing discussions at the state Capitol in 2021.
The Legislature focused great attention last year on Senate Bill 9, a law that went into effect in January and allows homeowners to build up to four units on their single-family lots. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed that measure along with Senate Bill 10, which lets cities streamline the development of small apartments with up to 10 units if they are near transit and job-rich areas. Both laws passed despite intense opposition from cities and homeowner associations, which claimed they were an infringement on local control and would eradicate California's single-family neighborhoods.
