Assemblywoman Soria Introduces Housing Bill Aimed at Providing More Funding for Rural Communities

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria introduced new housing legislation (AB 36) that will provide additional funding for small, rural communities to compete for state funded housing grants. 

“This bill will finally address challenges small towns and cities have been facing for decades in California,” said Assemblywoman Soria. “For too long the complex application process for housing funds has shut out smaller rural disadvantaged communities. Today we change that. This bill will finally level the playing field by providing small rural communities the resources to compete with larger cities for critical housing funds.” 

AB 36 was introduced on December 2, 2024. It was Assemblywoman Soria’s first day of her newly re-elected 2^nd term as Assemblymember of District 27.

“Like many rural communities in the Central Valley, Firebaugh faces significant challenges in building the housing our residents desperately need,” said Firebaugh Mayor Pro Tem Freddy Valdez. “Competing with larger cities for state funding often places us at a disadvantage, making it difficult to clear the same hurdles. We deeply appreciate Assemblywoman Soria’s dedication to addressing these inequities and helping communities like ours overcome these barriers. Her efforts and the introduction of this bill bring hope and opportunity to Firebaugh and others like us.”

Additional legislation was also introduced today by Assemblywoman Soria. One bill that the Assemblywoman intends to amend to improve higher education in the Central Valley, and another bill which aims to protect the privacy of tribal judges in California. 

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