Gov. Newsom signs laws to expand farm worker housing programs

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two housing bills into law in Fresno Tuesday.

Assembly Bills 2240 and 3035 focus on expanding housing opportunities for migrant farm workers. Newsom says the laws are a step toward stable housing, but there is still a long way to go.

AB 2240 will impact Central Valley farm workers.

“We need larger housing. We need family housing. We need no longer to have just seasonal housing. We need year-round permanent housing,” Newsom said.

He says, until now, farm labor centers were allowed to rent living space to migrant farm workers, but only during certain seasons – AB 2240 changes that.

“I am pleased that Assembly Bill 2240 will be signed today – a bill that is focused on farm worker housing and making sure that we have stability for our children’s educational success,” Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula said at Tuesday’s press conference.

The law allows farm labor centers to stay open year-round unless it costs the state or renters more to keep it open.

“More importantly for me is to be able to have farm workers’ children be able to finish a school year at a school, rather than having to go from school district to school district. That’s been the case for many years,” Assemblymember Juan Carrillo said.

However, as one program expands, another ends. One caveat of the state allowing farm labor centers to stay open all year is that workers will no longer be allowed to rent out The Office of Migrant Services.

Starting in 2014, migrant farm workers were permitted to rent space in the office if they were financially impacted by the drought. That is no longer the case.

“It’s the beginning now of the next phase – the real work,” Newsom said.

Newsom says his goal is to make sure migrant farm workers have secure living situations, both for their benefit and their children’s. He sees AB 2240 as the first step.

He also signed AB 3035 into law in Fresno Tuesday, opening the potential for more state funding for single-family units. However, that bill only impacts Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties.

Newsom hopes to implement the same legislation in the Central Valley soon.

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