SACRAMENTO— Following months of laser-focused work, Senate Leader Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) and the Senate Democratic Caucus today launched a three-pillar legislative package to help tackle the affordability crisis in our state—focusing on the critical areas of Energy, Housing, and Workforce.

The package includes three bills along with strategic budget actions to: accelerate housing supply and increase housing stability for homeowners and renters across California; help protect hardworking Californians from skyrocketing utility costs to save ratepayers billions over the next decade; and expedite the development of clean energy projects to meet the state’s demands for electricity and open up life-changing opportunities to good-paying careers.

The Senate’s efforts will expand housing opportunities for first time home buyers and make it easier to build workforce housing, all while investing in expanded career training programs that will uplift thousands of Californians by creating new pathways to the middle class. The package addresses many of the key pillars of affordability—increasing housing supply, working to bring down some of the largest drivers of high electric bills, and building foundations to family-sustaining careers.

The three bills—SB 254 by Senator Josh Becker, SB 681 by Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab, SB 638 by Senator Steve Padilla—are part of the Senate’s comprehensive effort to increase housing stock, reduce ongoing utility costs, and expand workforce and career training programs for quality, good-paying jobs. All while making it easier to afford to live and raise a family in the Golden State.

SB 254 (Becker) tackles utility costs and expedites clean energy production, which will save consumers billions of dollars on energy bills in the coming years. It will require utility companies to use the most cost effective ways to save ratepayers money, expedite thousands of megawatts of clean energy projects and creates a program to accelerate large-scale battery energy storage and cut red tape for clean energy projects. SB 254 also forces utilities to use the most cost effective wildfire mitigation plans, as rising wildfire mitigation costs have become some of the largest drivers of utility bill increases. The bill also adds transparency provisions for ratepayers at the Public Utilities Commission.

SB 681 (Wahab) helps tackle the housing crisis by making it easier to build housing across California, advances protections and housing stability measures for renters, helps first time homebuyers achieve the American dream, and kickstarts housing production at all levels. It expands the Surplus Lands Act and the Permit Streamlining Act, which expedites the development of housing units in cities and counties. The bill makes it easier to build affordable housing in regions most impacted by housing shortages, increases housing stability for renters by curbing junk fee practices, and significantly increases the renters tax credit. SB 681 will also establish new paths to homeownership, and defends homeowners from predatory mortgage debt practices.

SB 638 (Padilla) invests in results-driven programs that build a more vigorous pathway to the middle class. The bill expands and modernizes California’s career training programs and creates a pathway to better paying jobs in traditional and emerging industries. The bill establishes a groundbreaking new collaboration between K-12 school districts, community colleges, and local industries to expand strong workforce opportunities across the state. Specifically, the program will focus on regional needs, including the demands of emerging industries such as information technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and the green economy. The legislation will expand apprenticeship programs at community colleges and streamline the state’s career education system to ensure that all relevant stakeholders—in both education and local business—work together to implement a cohesive, successful workforce strategy for all regions of California. 

Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire:

 

“For too long, hardworking families have struggled to afford the basics—skyrocketing housing costs and utility bills are stretching budgets and folks are struggling to achieve a job that pays a family-sustaining wage. That’s why the state Senate is taking bold action to help fix the status quo here in the Golden State. Our plan delivers real, lasting solutions to make our state more affordable—from housing, to utility costs, to expanding career opportunities across California. These three impactful bills should be considered an opening salvo; we know there’s much more work to do. We’re going to continue to deliver results that make a difference for Californians.”

 

Hear from the Senate Bill authors:

 

Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park):

 

“The California Energy Modernization and Affordability Act is California’s most ambitious effort yet to rein in rising energy costs and put ratepayers first. This bill—which will save Californians billions—ensures wildfire mitigation dollars are spent where they have the greatest impact and sharpens scrutiny of utility budgets through stronger laws that will help control excessive profits and rate increases. It uses public financing to lower long-term costs and streamlines clean energy permitting so we can build clean projects faster and more affordably.”

 

 Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab (D-Silicon Valley):

 

“It’s time we deliver on our promise to help make California a more affordable place to live, and expand the rights of renters and homeowners. For decades, our housing shortage has forced countless residents to live beyond their means and sacrifice the American Dream of homeownership. SB 681 immediately expands rent relief to millions, makes homeownership more achievable, builds more homes faster in communities big and small, and expedites the development of workforce housing across California.”

 

Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego):

 

“Too many Californians are economically stranded in low wage jobs and don’t have the means to acquire the skills necessary for high wage opportunities. SB 638 will supercharge programs that connect people with good paying jobs, reimagine our career technical education system, and expand access to those programs to better prepare Californians for the 21st century economy.”

The bill package follows months of work from the Senate’s Affordability Working Group. The group is co-chaired by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) and Senator Dr. Aisha Wahab (D-Silicon Valley), and includes the following Senators: Jesse Arreguín (D-Berkeley), Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento), Tim Grayson (D-Concord), Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield), Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena), Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), and Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles). The Working Group will continue to focus on the areas of energy, housing, and workforce on behalf of all Californians.

En Español

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Mike McGuire is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. He represents the North Coast of California, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties. Website of Senate Leader McGuire: https://sd02.senate.ca.gov