California Democrats promise ‘not performative’ action on affordability crisis

Four months after saying the affordability crisis should be California lawmakers’ top priority, the leader of the Assembly is forming four select committees to look into some of the most burdensome expenses for residents.

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, announced Wednesday the creation of select committees on early childcare costs, housing finance and affordability, gas prices, and CalFresh enrollment.

“California’s cost-of-living is the single biggest threat to our future,” Rivas said in a news release. “Middle-class families earning $125,000 a year are struggling to afford rent, child care, and groceries.” This is the second significant affordability-related action the Speaker has taken this session; he moved forward a package streamlining housing production earlier this month.

Select committees are temporary committees that focus on narrow issues; different from standing committees, which have areas of responsibility.

Rivas spokesperson Nick Miller said this committee action is based on last year’s Select Committee on Retail Theft. That committee was created amid mounting pressure from the electorate, and heard from law enforcement, retailers, and other stakeholders. The group authored a number of targeted bills, many of which became law, and voters followed with their own effort — Proposition 36 — in November, which strengthened penalties for certain drug and theft crimes.

Miller stressed that the committees are “strategic” and “not performative.”

“A process with public input matters,” he said. “It allows members to closely examine cost pressures and bring forward solutions that truly help working families.” He said the committees would likely start meeting in the summer and form legislation for next year.

But some Republicans disagree on how strategic the committees actually are.

Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, countered that the committees only make the Democrats look like they’re doing something.

“Californians don’t need more government committees,” he said. “They need real action that cuts their costs.”

Gallagher called out years of past Democratic legislation — “blocking housing, raising taxes, and driving up costs for working families,” as the issue.

Following the lead of the retail theft committee

Assemblymember Juan Alanis, R-Modesto, a former police officer, served on the Select Committee on Retail Theft last year, and said that select committees can have positive outcomes — a slightly different take than Gallagher’s.

Alanis told The Bee Thursday he felt the bipartisan committee on retail theft was useful, adding he was happy with the bills they crafted, and happier still when voters had their say with Prop. 36.

“I hope they take the same approach that we took on it with retail theft,” he said of the new committees, adding it would be good to “get into the nuts and bolts” of affordability issues.

“I know we say affordability all the time up here, but, like, what does it really mean?”

Alanis pointed to recent legislation authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, to reform the permitting process for building new housing as an example of a change that will move the needle on costs.

The Senate makes moves

California’s state Senators also took action on the affordability front Thursday, with Pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, and the Senate Democratic Caucus announcing their “Investing in Your California Dream” package of three bills.

The bills are targeted at three problems: high utility costs, low housing stock, and a lack of career pathways. Each bill includes a package of actions to address the issue. For instance, SB 254, authored by state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, would require utilities to choose the most cost effective wildfire mitigation plans, and would streamline clean energy projects, among other things.

A release issued by McGuire’s office said the bills are a result of the Senate’s Affordability Working Group, which has been meeting throughout the year.

“These three impactful bills should be considered an opening salvo; we know there’s much more work to do,” McGuire said.

This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 3:45 PM.