KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to California

SB-492 • 2026

Youth Housing Bond Act of 2026.

Youth Housing Bond Act of 2026.

Agriculture Elections Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Menjivar
Last action
2026-01-27
Official status
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Youth Housing Bond Act of 2026

The Youth Housing Bond Act of 2026 proposes a bond measure to raise $1 billion for youth housing programs, including the construction and renovation of youth centers and housing.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Youth Housing Program to provide funding for youth housing needs.
  • Authorizes the sale of bonds worth up to $1 billion to fund this program.
  • Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to give money to local agencies, nonprofits, and joint ventures to build or fix youth centers and housing.
  • Includes funds for buying equipment needed for these projects.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Youth who need housing support
  • Local agencies involved in youth services
  • Nonprofit organizations working on youth housing issues

Terms To Know

Bonds
Money borrowed by the government that needs to be paid back with interest.
Youth Housing Program
A program funded by bonds to help build and improve housing for young people.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill must pass a voter referendum on November 3, 2026.
  • It is not clear how much of the $1 billion will be used for each type of project.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-27 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  2. 2026-01-27 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 30. Noes 9. Page 3300.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  3. 2026-01-26 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  4. 2026-01-22 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

  5. 2026-01-22 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2. Page 3269.) (January 22).

  6. 2026-01-21 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing January 22.

  7. 2026-01-20 California Legislative Information

    January 20 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  8. 2026-01-13 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing January 20.

  9. 2026-01-08 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  10. 2026-01-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 1. Page 3184.) (January 6).

  11. 2026-01-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on HOUSING.

  12. 2026-01-05 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing January 6 in HOUSING pending receipt.

  13. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.

  14. 2025-02-19 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 492, as amended, Menjivar.
Youth Housing Bond Act of 2026.
Existing law, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018, which was approved by the voters as Proposition 1 at the November 6, 2018, statewide general election, authorizes the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,000,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law and requires the proceeds from the sale of these bonds to be used to finance various housing programs and a specified program for farm, home, and mobilehome purchase assistance for veterans, as provided. Existing law establishes, among various other programs intended to address homelessness in this state, the Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention program for the purpose of providing jurisdictions with one-time grant funds to support regional coordination and expand or develop local capacity to address their immediate homelessness challenges informed by a best-practices framework focused on moving
homeless individuals and families into permanent housing and supporting the efforts of those individuals and families to maintain their permanent housing.
This bill would enact the Youth Housing Bond Act of 2026 (bond act), which, if adopted, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of
$____
$1,000,000,000
pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance the Youth Housing Program, established as part of the bond act. The bill, as a part of the program, would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to make awards to local agencies, nonprofit organizations, and joint ventures for the purpose of acquiring, renovating, constructing, and purchasing equipment for youth centers or youth housing, as those terms are defined.
This bill would provide for submission of the bond act to the voters at the November 3, 2026, statewide general election in accordance with specified law.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF