By Gary Warth
March 19, 2026
A number of state and federal bills addressing homelessness, housing and behavioral health are advancing through legislative committees.
Here’s a look at several measures under consideration:
State legislation
SB 1091: Preserving affordable housing, preventing displacement
Introduced by Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced), SB 1091 passed the Senate Housing Committee on March 17 in a 10-0 vote and has been re-referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The bill would create a Community Anti-Displacement and Preservation Program to fund the acquisition and rehabilitation of market-rate housing, converting units into long-term affordable housing while preventing displacement of current residents.
Public agencies would receive grants or loans and partner with private entities to manage the properties, with long-term affordability restrictions applied.
AB 1573: Expanding housing protections for domestic violence survivors
Introduced by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles), AB 1573 would expand the definition of “target population” in local housing plans to include victims of domestic violence.
Housing elements — required under state law — guide how cities and counties plan for housing needs, including supportive and emergency housing.
The bill was amended March 16 and is scheduled for a March 25 hearing in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee.
AB 2162: Expanding housing support for young adults
Also introduced by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, AB 2162 would expand eligibility for housing assistance programs serving young adults.
The bill would raise the age limit from 24 to 28 for participants in the Transitional Housing Program and the Housing Navigation and Maintenance Program, which help young adults — particularly those exiting foster care or probation systems — secure and maintain housing.
It would also update reporting requirements to focus on outcomes and add new data tracking related to housing vouchers.
The bill is scheduled for a March 25 hearing.
AB 1676: Expanding authority under Laura’s Law
Introduced by Assemblymember Catherine Stefani (D-San Francisco), AB 1676 would expand provisions under Laura’s Law to allow court-ordered involuntary medication for individuals receiving Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT).
The bill would authorize county behavioral health directors to petition courts for involuntary medication orders and allow treatment teams to request law enforcement assistance to transport individuals for treatment.
The measure was re-referred March 17 to the Assembly Health Committee and is scheduled for an April 7 hearing.
Federal legislation
H.R. 3869: Expanding housing benefits for veterans
Introduced by Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Oregon), the Every Veteran Housed Act would expand eligibility for federal homelessness benefits to all veterans, regardless of length of service.
The bill was heard March 18 in the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity and advanced to the House floor for a future vote.
Currently, many benefits require minimum service thresholds, such as 90 days for basic eligibility or 36 months for full GI Bill benefits.
What it means for San Diego
The measures reflect a broad policy shift toward prevention, housing preservation and expanded eligibility for vulnerable populations — priorities that align with ongoing efforts across San Diego County to reduce inflow into homelessness while increasing access to housing and services.
