Administration seeks legislative approval to split Business, Consumer Services and Housing agency into separate housing and consumer-focused agencies

Subcommittee 4 of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee heard presentations on the governor's proposed reorganization of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing (BCSH) agency, including creation of a California Housing and Homelessness Agency (CHHA), a separate Business and Consumer Services Agency (BCSA), and a Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC).

The change, presented as part of the May revision, would split housing and homelessness functions into a single cabinet-level agency and move business and consumer regulation into a separate, more narrowly focused agency. “This proposal makes key structural changes to increase our ability to provide positive impact for Californians across our entire portfolio,” Secretary Tamika Moss said, adding the reorganization would let each secretary “devote their time to a narrower policy focus, lead more specialized staff, and policy expertise.”

Why the proposal matters: supporters say a split will concentrate leadership and program delivery for housing and homelessness at the cabinet level and create a single forum — the Housing Development and…