# Who's responsible for this new Section 8 law in California **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 28, 2024, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257 "2024-02-28T23:09:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/1 "2024-02-28T23:09:22Z")
(I put this here because it has a factual answer - if it needs to be in Politics, feel free to move) I’m in property management here in California. It’s a largish company and I’m the only Liberal in the office. Everyone else is strongly Right wing. So every policy change as it relates to property management brings on shouts 'Thank you, asshole, Governor Newsome". I am not a huge fan of the man, myself, but I get tired of their knee-jerk reaction… but I digress. Anyway, in California, Section 8 applicants have always had to meet the same criteria as every other applicant, credit-wise. You are section 8, fine, we will take your vouchers but you need to otherwise meet the same qualifications as everyone else - good rental history, good credit, etc. But that has apparently changed as of the first of this year. Section 8 applicants no longer need to qualify, credit-wise. So my factual question is: Is this Gavin Newsom’s doing? I tried looking it up online but my google-fu is pathetic. For the record, I’m not claiming he’s not responsible… I’m just curious as to who is. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/2 "2024-02-28T23:30:17Z")
This is from [Senate Bill 267.](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB267) From the Bill Analysis tab of that page, the original Senate Judiciary analysis lists the author as Susan Eggman (D - 5th District [western San Joaquin County]). It also says it was based on or similar to other bills by Assemblywoman Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley) and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton). You can also see who voted for it on that page, and while I didn’t look up each senator and assemblyperson, I’d guess based on the vote totals that some of the ayes must be Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/3 "2024-02-29T00:17:39Z")
And if the California legislature works the same way as most other states and the feds, presumably Newsome signed it into law. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/4 "2024-02-29T01:54:49Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > …presumably Newsome signed it into law. Correct. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/5 "2024-02-29T03:50:36Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And if the California legislature works the same way as most other states and the feds, presumably Newsome signed it into law. Of course the other possibility is the governor vetos it and the legislature overrides the veto. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/6 "2024-02-29T03:51:28Z")
It’s “Newsom,” no “e” at the end. You might as well get used to getting that right, he’s almost certainly already running for President in 2028. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/7 "2024-02-29T12:47:32Z")
In the Senate, it looks like 28 D & 3 R voted for the bill, while 3 R & 0 D voted against (with 4 D & 2 R not voting.) In the House, 62 D & 0 R for, and 12 R & 0 D against (with 6 R not voting.) I did this by counting the Republicans; there aren’t that many in either house (8 & 18, respectively.) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/8 "2024-02-29T17:56:51Z")
Thank you all. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/9 "2024-02-29T22:03:37Z")
Would anyone care to explain what this is about. What is section 8? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/10 "2024-02-29T22:09:14Z")
It’s a federal program for housing for low-income folks. More detail than that, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/11 "2024-02-29T22:15:44Z")
Chronos is right. Basically HUD offers vouchers (money equivalent) for low income folks. > **[Housing Choice Voucher Program Section 8](https://www.hud.gov/topics/housing_choice_voucher_program_section_8)** > > Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet On this page What are housing choice vouchers? Am I eligible? How do I apply? Local preferences and waiting list - what are they and how do they affect me? Housing vouchers - how do they function? The rent subsidy... ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/12 "2024-02-29T22:16:07Z")
Federally sponsored program that provides vouchers to allow lower-income people to find housing in the private sector (as opposed to “the projects” etc.). It’s my understanding that such housing is in short supply and there’s a long wait list to get into anything. Interesting that the prospective tenants ever had to fully meet credit / rental history requirements, as such tenants are (I would guess) less likely to have solid credit or rental history. Clearly not something I know much about; my S8 experience was related to hearing about financial control issues while consulting at HUD, back in the late 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/13 "2024-02-29T22:31:55Z")
Well, without going too far off into the weeds… We manage some very nice properties. In one neighborhood, the rents go for $3500 to a little over $4000 a month. We recently had to allow a section 8 tenant in - she pays $98 a month. As an owner, you would want to have some control over who occupies your property so as to protect your investment (as an example, two months ago tenants moved out of a property they trashed and it took about $40,000 to get it re-rentable). But with laws the way they are now, if a S8 person applies we basically have to give it to them. There are no protections available to owners. > [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Interesting that the prospective tenants ever had to fully meet credit / rental history requirements, as such tenants are (I would guess) less likely to have solid credit or rental history. This isn’t necessarily true, I have no idea what the ratio is but we have rented to many S8 tenants with good credit. ---
**Author:** ![Cwturner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Cwturner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cwturner)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/14 "2024-02-29T22:47:40Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > We recently had to allow a section 8 tenant in - she pays $98 a month. Yes, but the remainder is wired to your account by the govmt on the 1st of the month, no? Hereabouts, most landlords dont care or expect the S8 tenant’s portion to show up, so I hear ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/15 "2024-02-29T23:26:02Z")
> [@Cwturner](#): > > Hereabouts, most landlords dont care or expect the S8 tenant’s portion to show up, so I hear I doubt very seriously that is the case - it certainly is not in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/16 "2024-03-01T20:33:06Z")
As noted, clearly this is something I know next-to-nothing about. Is there a long list of applicants for every slot? ---
**Author:** ![Cwturner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Cwturner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cwturner)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/17 "2024-03-01T20:58:25Z")
On a rental of $3500‐$4000/mo, $98 is like 2%. I can understand a landlord not sweating that. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/18 "2024-03-01T21:27:57Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Section 8 applicants have always had to meet the same criteria as every other applicant, credit-wise. You are section 8, fine, we will take your vouchers but you need to otherwise meet the same qualifications as everyone else - good rental history, good credit, etc. I am not in California nor a lawyer. From my reading of the bill, applicants still have to meet reasonable credit history-for the portion of the rent they are paying. No telling what would happen if the feds had to show a similar credit history for their portion… But a potential renter has to show good history for the part of the rent he/she is paying. Which is probably why it sailed through the state legislature. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/19 "2024-03-01T21:29:31Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Is there a long list of applicants for every slot? In many cases a years long wait. There is only so much money and with rents rising so fast, the existing budget must be stretched further every year. But I know it isn’t quick. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257/20 "2024-03-01T22:15:54Z")
> [@Cwturner](#): > > On a rental of $3500‐$4000/mo, $98 is like 2%. I can understand a landlord not sweating that. The percentage is irrelevant - it’s about $100 a month, which I can assure you would be a big deal to our clientele. We manage over 400 properties and it’s my job to request funds from owners for stuff that’s actually needed -that’s tough enough. The thought that they would frivolously piss away $100 a month is laughable. > [@Cwturner](#): > > landlords dont care or expect the S8 tenant’s portion to show up, so I hear Out of curiosity, where did you hear this? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-responsible-for-this-new-section-8-law-in-california/998257.md?page=2)