SACRAMENTO – Today Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) announced the introduction of AB 1432, the Homelessness, Accountability, Recovery, and Treatment (HART) Act—a bill that would enhance local accountability and allow state support for recovery and sobriety programs.
“The nonpartisan LAO reports that $37 billion taxpayer dollars have been spent on housing and homelessness over the past 6 years,” stated Assemblyman Hoover. “During that same period of time California’s homeless population has grown from 151,000 to 187,000. This is the definition of failure. It’s time to get serious about accountability, sobriety, and treatment to make sure we are getting results for the people of California.”
A recent UC San Francisco study revealed that nearly 40% of individuals experiencing homelessness reported drug use within the past six months. However, the state has failed to invest in recovery-focused housing options and instead requires a Housing First model that does not adequately address substance abuse and mental health issues. AB 1432 provides that 40% of available state homelessness funding can be directed toward programs that require sobriety or treatment, helping people break free from addiction and rebuild their lives. Additionally, it requires nonprofits receiving state or local homelessness funding to track and report how they are spending every dollar to ensure taxpayer resources are going to programs that deliver results.
This legislation builds on action the Legislature has taken on homelessness in recent years. In 2023, Assemblyman Hoover passed a bipartisan audit of homelessness spending. Last year he introduced AB 2903 to implement the auditor’s recommendations and require state agencies to track homelessness spending throughout the state. While the bill passed out of the Assembly and Senate with unanimous bipartisan support, it was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Josh Hoover represents Assembly District 7, which includes the cities of Citrus Heights, Folsom, and Rancho Cordova and the unincorporated communities of Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Foothill Farms, Gold River, Mather, McClellan Park, North Highlands, Orangevale, and Rosemont.
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