AB-474
Housing & Homelessness

Housing discrimination: nonprofit home-sharing program: eligibility for public social services.

Engrossed
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes nonprofit home-sharing programs to match homeowners with tenants seeking affordable housing.
  • Exempts income from nonprofit home-sharing rentals when calculating public benefits eligibility.
  • Allows homeowners to rent to up to two tenants in owner-occupied single-family homes.
  • Requires home-sharing programs to provide free case management and support services five days per week.

Summary

Assembly Member Ward's proposal to modify California's housing discrimination laws and public assistance eligibility rules centers on expanding home-sharing opportunities through nonprofit programs. The legislation amends owner-occupied housing provisions to permit up to two tenants, rather than the current limit of one roomer or boarder, while maintaining protections against discriminatory practices in advertising and tenant selection.

The bill establishes specific criteria for nonprofit home-sharing programs, requiring them to provide free matching services, background checks, and ongoing case management for both landlords and tenants. These programs must be administered by tax-exempt organizations or government entities, with full-time staff available at least five days per week to support housing stability. Lease agreements facilitated through these programs must extend for a minimum of 30 days.

Under the proposed changes, income generated from participating in qualified nonprofit home-sharing arrangements would not count toward eligibility calculations for public assistance programs like CalWORKs, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal. The bill's findings cite data showing that eight out of ten extremely low-income older renters currently spend more than half their monthly income on housing, while the state faces a shortage of approximately 1.3 million affordable units. Counties would receive state reimbursement for any additional costs incurred from implementing these eligibility modifications.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Services
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Services
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Human Services Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Human Services Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 474 Ward Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass as amended
Assembly Revenue And Taxation Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Revenue And Taxation Hearing
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Assembly Human Services Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Human Services Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Revenue and Taxation] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Monique LimonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Chris WardD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Jesse ArreguinD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 6 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Monique LimonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Chris WardD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Jesse ArreguinD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Sasha Renee PerezD
Senator
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Chris Ward
Chris WardD
California State Assembly Member
40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Latest Voting History

July 7, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Human Services Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
5005PASS

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes nonprofit home-sharing programs to match homeowners with tenants seeking affordable housing.
  • Exempts income from nonprofit home-sharing rentals when calculating public benefits eligibility.
  • Allows homeowners to rent to up to two tenants in owner-occupied single-family homes.
  • Requires home-sharing programs to provide free case management and support services five days per week.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Chris Ward
Chris WardD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Ward's proposal to modify California's housing discrimination laws and public assistance eligibility rules centers on expanding home-sharing opportunities through nonprofit programs. The legislation amends owner-occupied housing provisions to permit up to two tenants, rather than the current limit of one roomer or boarder, while maintaining protections against discriminatory practices in advertising and tenant selection.

The bill establishes specific criteria for nonprofit home-sharing programs, requiring them to provide free matching services, background checks, and ongoing case management for both landlords and tenants. These programs must be administered by tax-exempt organizations or government entities, with full-time staff available at least five days per week to support housing stability. Lease agreements facilitated through these programs must extend for a minimum of 30 days.

Under the proposed changes, income generated from participating in qualified nonprofit home-sharing arrangements would not count toward eligibility calculations for public assistance programs like CalWORKs, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal. The bill's findings cite data showing that eight out of ten extremely low-income older renters currently spend more than half their monthly income on housing, while the state faces a shortage of approximately 1.3 million affordable units. Counties would receive state reimbursement for any additional costs incurred from implementing these eligibility modifications.

40% progression
Bill has passed all readings in its first house and is ready to move to the other house (6/2/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Services
Next Step
Senate Committee
Referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Human Services
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Senate Human Services Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Human Services Hearing
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Senate Committee
Senate Judiciary Hearing
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]
Vote on Assembly Floor
Assembly Floor
Vote on Assembly Floor
AB 474 Ward Assembly Third Reading
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Appropriations Hearing
Do pass as amended
Assembly Revenue And Taxation Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Revenue And Taxation Hearing
Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
Assembly Human Services Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Human Services Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Revenue and Taxation] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Assembly Committee
Assembly Judiciary Hearing
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Human Services]
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Read first time. To print.

Latest Voting History

July 7, 2025
PASS
Senate Committee
Senate Human Services Hearing
AyesNoesNVRTotalResult
5005PASS

Contacts

Profile
Monique LimonD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Chris WardD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Jesse ArreguinD
Senator
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 6 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 2
Select All Legislators
Profile
Monique LimonD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Chris WardD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Josh BeckerD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Rosilicie Ochoa BoghR
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Jesse ArreguinD
Senator
Committee Member
Profile
Sasha Renee PerezD
Senator
Committee Member