Governor Gavin Newsome | Official website
Governor Newsom has signed two bills aimed at increasing access to affordable housing for California's farmworkers. The bills, AB 2240 and AB 3035, are designed to improve housing stability for agricultural workers and simplify the construction of farmworker housing.
"Farmworkers are the backbone of California’s nation-leading agricultural industry and play a critical role in ensuring the stability of the state, nation, and world’s food supply. Investing in their well-being is investing in California’s success. All families deserve access to safe and stable housing," said Governor Gavin Newsom.
The new legislation is expected to help farmworker families avoid disruptions caused by seasonal movement, allowing children to stay enrolled in the same schools and maintain academic progress. Additionally, Governor Newsom signed SB 1105, which permits farmworkers to use accrued paid sick leave during emergencies such as heatwaves, flooding, or smoke conditions.
AB 2240 focuses on creating more stable housing for migrant farmworkers by leveraging the Department of Housing & Community Development’s (HCD) Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program. This bill allows HCD to prioritize residents currently living in seasonal Office of Migrant Services (OMS) housing for more permanent accommodations through the Serna program. It also identifies state-owned excess land near OMS centers that can be used for building permanent affordable housing for farmworkers. Furthermore, HCD is required to assess the feasibility of converting temporary OMS housing into year-round permanent residences.
AB 3035 aims to streamline regulatory processes by simplifying approval procedures for farmworker housing in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. This bill raises the cap on housing units from 36 to 150 in these counties, facilitating larger developments with better access to essential services.
SB 1105 allows agricultural employees working outdoors to use their accrued paid sick leave during local or state emergencies involving adverse conditions like smoke, heat, or flooding.
The Joe Serna Jr. Farmworker Housing Grant Program has been instrumental in developing both multifamily and single-family homes restricted to farmworkers since its inception. Between 1978 and 2018, approximately $271.5 million was awarded for 138 multi-family projects under this program. In recent years, over $300 million has been allocated for new projects that include around 3,577 housing units. In the latest funding round in 2023, HCD awarded $110 million for ten new projects comprising an additional 618 units.
The bills signed today include:
- AB 2240 by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) – Farm labor centers: migratory agricultural workers.
- AB 3035 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Clara) – Farmworker housing.
- SB 1105 by Senator Steve Padilla (D-Chula Vista) – Paid sick leave: agricultural employees: emergencies.
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