Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT THE BILLS
What is the official source of info re: housing bills?
Study the tabs to get to bill info, CA law, publications, subscriptions, etc.
Where do I find details about a bill and its status?
CA Legislative Info > Bill Information Tab
Type AB or SB (origin of the bill (Assembly or Senate) and the #.
Ex: SB79. That will take you to the text, analysis, votes, history, status and other info
Are there other sources of information?
Yes, we have several good ones:
Scroll down to “Bill Search” in the middle of the page. Enter the bill #. Gives access to short bill description, LCC’s position, progression, position letters and sample letters for cities.
Also check their Advocacy page for “Bill Talk”
- Livable CA > 2025 Legislation Tab
Find bills by number or topic, and sample letters
Find legislative map, info about the bills, committees and sample letters
Other sources include:
How do I sign up to get bill notifications
CA Legislative Info > My Subscriptions Tab
Where do I find info about the Assembly or Senate Committees that hear the bills?
CA Legislative Info > Bill Information Tab
Enter the bill: AB or SB and number. Use the menu bar under the name of the bill. Go to history or status for the vote record.
ABOUT COMMITTEES & MEMBERS
How do I find info about the Assembly Committees that hear housing bills?
Check the tabs at the top of the home page. Overview, daily events, 2025 calendar, “find my senator” tab, link to bill search by number.
How do I find names and contact info for Assembly Committee members?
On the home page, go to “committees” on the menu bar. That will take you to Standing Committees where you’ll click on the committee: Housing and Community Development, Local Government, others.
How do I find info about the Senate Committees that hear housing bills?
Go to the menu bar. Select Senator for a complete list. Click “Committees” for a list of all the committees.
How do I find names of contact info for Senate Committee members?
Read the tabs across and down to find members, hearing dates and deadlines, committee staff, and directions to the portal.
COMMUNICATION: Portal, Emails, & Calls
How to prepare a position letter for the portal?
1. Read the committee staff report/analysis
2. Use the League of CA Cities, Livable CA, or other sources as a model
3. Tips: Keep it short, respectful, focused on policy strengths or weaknesses, impact on your neighborhood or community.
Portal letters are accessible, but are not delivered to the Committee members.
Portal letters must be on letterhead, signed, PDF format, and received by due date. Clearly show bill #, author, and position: Support or Oppose
Who else should get your position letter?
Assembly: Send a copy of your portal letter to the committee members. Include a cc to your own Assemblymember and Senator.
Assembly format: firstname.lastname@asm.ca.gov.
Senate format: Senator.lastname@senate.ca.gov
How else can you urge legislative action?
1. Make 60-second calls to all the committee members or just swing voters, if you’re pressed for time to urge a yes/no vote. Find their phone number on the home page of the Committee (housing local government, appropriations, etc.)
2. After hours calls are fine.
3. Script: “My name is XX. I’m calling about (name the bill). I urge a support/oppose vote. I live in XX, which is in (name)’s district or “I live in XX, which isn’t in (name)’s district. But Assembly/Senator (name’s) vote will impact all of us, so it make sense he hear from all of us. Thanks for recording my position.”
Rationale for the short script:
If it’s a controversial vote, the staff is bombarded with calls. For them, the priority information is
1) what bill?
2) support or oppose?
3) is this caller in the legislator’s district.
Staff will give the legislator the tally.
Other FAQs
Does it matter?
YES! Action is the surest way to results and improved mental health. Increase impact by inviting a few neighbors, family, friends, book club members, etc. to join you in sending letters and/or making calls. Like your neighborhood? We’re called on to fight to protect it for common-unity; not for-profit motivation of investor/developer types.