Gavin Newsom Greenlights Legislation Aimed At Closing Pay Gaps And Helping Unhoused RV Residents

In October, Governor Gavin Newsom endorsed two Senate bills from the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). One, proposed by Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles), aims to enhance pay equity by broadening employer pay-data reporting. The second, led by Sen. Laura Richardson (D-Inglewood), focuses on local government assistance for managing issues related to homeless individuals residing in recreational vehicles (RVs).Smallwood-Cuevas’s Senate Bill 464, known as the “Advancing Pay Equity Act,” is part of the “Road to Repair 2025 Priority Package,” which seeks to rectify historical injustices against descendants of enslaved individuals in California. The bill mandates the inclusion of new job categories, expanded salary ranges, and improved data quality in pay reporting.Richardson’s SB 748 addresses public health concerns stemming from RV living conditions. The legislation also develops safe-parking operations and mandates efficacy reporting, ultimately aiming to serve the needs of both unhoused residents and local communities.