California Senate proclaims May 2025 as Affordable Housing Month after wide-ranging floor debate

The California State Senate on the floor adopted Senate Resolution 46, declaring May 2025 Affordable Housing Month and calling renewed attention to the state’s housing affordability crisis. The resolution, authored by Senator Cabaldon, passed by voice and roll call and was adopted unanimously.

Supporters said the declaration should be paired with concrete action. Senator Cabaldon described California’s housing shortfall and urged backing the full suite of policies and funding tools, including voter-approved bonds, to build and preserve affordable homes. “We need to build 300,000 new units a year, including 125,000 affordable units,” Cabaldon said in his remarks introducing the measure.

Senator Wahab, chair of the Senate Housing Committee, emphasized prioritizing ownership and called attention to the growing population of unhoused seniors: “Being able to ensure that they are housed and live dignified lives in their golden years is important and should be a priority of this institution.” Other senators across the aisle and in the majority expressed support while urging different emphases — from production and regulatory streamlining to protecting middle-income pathways to ownership.

Senator Grove warned that some state policies can increase development costs and cited permitting and fees that can make accessory dwelling unit (ADU) work costly for homeowners. Senator Blakespear and others highlighted the disparity between the state’s housing production targets and recent output: state policy aims for roughly 300,000 new homes per year but production last year was under 100,000 units.

Several senators asked that recognition of Affordable Housing Month be followed by budgetary and policy steps during the June budget process. Senator Cabaldon closed by saying May would be the month to recognize the crisis and June the time to act on funding and policy measures.

The chamber adopted SR 46 following a roll call; the clerk announced the final tally as 32 ayes, 0 noes during the recorded roll call presented on the floor and the resolution was adopted. After adoption, the author acknowledged housing advocates and nonprofit partners attending in the gallery.

The debate on SR 46 included a mix of calls for increased financing, regulatory streamlining, protections for seniors and low-income renters, and greater emphasis on ownership pathways for middle-income families. No formal amendments or binding policy changes were adopted as part of the resolution; it functions as a legislative statement of priorities and a call to continued legislative and budgetary work.

Senate action on SR 46 does not itself change zoning, bond authority, or program eligibility; senators who spoke repeatedly framed the resolution as a statement to guide the Legislature’s upcoming budget and policy choices.