CSAC is pleased to
support SCA 1, which Senators Allen and Wiener are jointly
authoring to repeal Article 34 of the California Constitution
upon approval of the statewide electorate. SCA 1 passed out of
the Senate Housing Committee earlier this week. If it passes the
Legislature and is approved by the voters, this constitutional
amendment would remove limitations on counties’ ability to
financially support affordable housing without voter approval,
while maintaining local voter approval requirements for new taxes
or general obligation bonds to support housing.
Article 34 was added to the California Constitution through a
ballot measure in 1950 and was designed to impede the
construction of healthy and affordable homes for Californians at
all income levels. It requires voter approval in order for a
local government to build or fund affordable housing. This
provision in the California Constitution stands as an
administrative hurdle for counties that seek to fund the
development of additional affordable homes in their
jurisdictions, as several have done in recent years through bond
measures.
CSAC will continue to monitor SCA 1 closely and keep counties
updated as it moves through the legislative process.
