What the big new housing bill means for California

The largest single piece of housing legislation to come out of Congress since at least 1990 it is now lawdespite President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign it.

The law aims to spur more housing construction across the country and includes a host of regulatory changes, pilot programs and targeted loans and grants.

Although numbers vary, most experts estimate that the US does not have the millions of units needed to bring housing costs down to affordable levels. A disproportionate number are needed in California’s urban areas.

Median home prices nationally hit a new all-time high of $440,600 in June, according to new data released by the National Association of Realtors. That would be a steal in California, which also set a record a month earlier: $930,260.

Supporters hope the new housing law will add up to more than the sum of its parts and get the country building.

• Stephen Russellpresident of the San Diego Housing Federation: “I think the last time Congress passed something of this magnitude, many of you weren’t even alive … it’s almost a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Among the new regulations that could have a significant effect on California:

• Federal subsidies given to cities that build more and taken away from those that don’t
• Regulatory change aimed at making pre-built homes cheaper
• A program to accelerate long-term recovery after natural disasters, such as wildfires

All of this and more is becoming law, even though Trump has refused to sign the bill. That’s not because he didn’t support it, but because he wanted to “protest” the Senate’s refusal to pass the controversial National Voter ID bill.

Trump’s move deprived congressional Republicans of an opportunity to celebrate what is among the biggest legislative achievements of Trump’s second term. It comes as the GOP faces electoral headwinds in November due, in part, to public concerns about affordability.

However, without a formal veto from the president, the law went into effect quietly and automatically on Saturday.

Read more.

Sewage pollution from Tijuana has plagued parts of South San Diego for decades, including Imperial Beach, where much of the shoreline has been closed almost continuously since 2023. Those closings prompted YMCA Camp Surf — which has introduced thousands of kids to water sports since its founding in 1969 — to find workarounds so younger San Diego residents can still enjoy the water.

As CalMatters’ Deborah Brennan explains, Camp Surf gives kids a chance to unplug and spend time outdoors. In addition to hiking, skating and archery, kids can learn to surf. But because airborne pollutants from the Tijuana River can make swimmers and surfers sick, the camp buses kids to neighboring Coronado, 15 minutes away. Coronado has also recently faced beach closures, so campers must travel even further north – 40 minutes to Mission Beach.

Although the camp has found an alternative for now, the beach closures still create gaps in outdoor education, physical activity and water safety for South San Diego youth.

• The Taylor caserecent graduate of Mar Vista High School in Imperial Beach: “Without having that access to a free, fun activity, the community isn’t as connected as it was when I was a kid.”

Read more.

It’s reporting day for CalPERS, as the state’s largest public pension fund plans to release its annual investment returns.

That’s a critical number for California government agencies, which must shell out more money when the California Public Employees’ Retirement System falls short of its annual 6.8% target.

That won’t be the case this year. As of last week, its assets were worth $634.5 billion — about $80 billion more than a year ago. We’ll find out the details this morning.

Today’s earnings report comes as public safety unions urge lawmakers to increasing pension income for police officers and firefighters. A big number today could make lawmakers more confident to say yes.