Newsom signs law to create a Sacramento regional authority that combats homelessness
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new law requiring Sacramento County and five cities to create a regional authority focused on housing and homelessness.
Senate Bill 802 requires Sacramento County and the cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights and Folsom to work together to establish a regional housing and homelessness joint powers authority by Jan. 1, 2028. Newsom signed the bill Sept. 20.
The goal is to create a more coordinated regional response instead of having individual cities and the county tackle homelessness separately.
“Homelessness does not stop at jurisdictional boundaries,” Newsom wrote in his signing message, saying no single city or county can solve the crisis alone.
Under the new law, local leaders will have to determine how the regional authority will be governed, how decisions will be made and how responsibilities will be shared.
The final version of the legislation also says local jurisdictions will retain oversight and accountability over funding decisions, projects and programs they administer, including homelessness prevention, outreach, shelters and housing.
The legislation faced significant opposition as it moved through the Legislature.
Some Sacramento County leaders remained opposed as the bill headed to the governor, along with Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper. Opponents raised concerns that creating another regional government entity could add bureaucracy, increase costs, and reduce local control over how communities respond to homelessness.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors had argued it would take decision-making authority and control of some funding away from local governments.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said he supported regional collaboration but was concerned the proposal went too far and could take decisions away from local jurisdictions.
But after the bill was amended, some initial critics supported the final version.
The law comes as Sacramento County continues to see thousands of people experiencing homelessness.
The 2026 Point-in-Time Count estimated 7,458 people were experiencing homelessness across Sacramento County during the January count. Of those, 4,205 were unsheltered and 3,253 were staying in shelters or transitional housing. That represented a 12.7% increase from the 2024 count.
Newsom said Sacramento-area governments have already taken steps toward greater regional cooperation. The city and county of Sacramento entered into a partnership agreement in 2022, while local governments have continued working on ways to better coordinate housing and homelessness programs.
SB 802 was authored by Sacramento Democratic Sen. Angelique Ashby.
The participating jurisdictions now have until Jan. 1, 2028, to establish the new regional authority.
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