Payam Javan: California lawmakers pass bills to bolster eviction protections, reform mental health system, and make striking workers eligible for unemployment benefits

The California Legislature voted Thursday to pass a number of bills, including one to bolster eviction protections for renters, one to reform the state’s mental health system, and one to make striking workers eligible for unemployment benefits.

The eviction reform bill would close a loophole in existing law that has allowed landlords to circumvent the state’s rent cap. The bill would also make it easier for tenants to sue landlords for wrongful evictions and illegal rent increases.

The mental health system reform bill would put two proposals before voters next March that would help transform the state’s mental health system and address the state’s worsening homelessness crisis. One proposal would allow the state to borrow $6.38 billion to build new treatment beds and housing, and the other would overhaul how counties pay for mental and behavioral health programs.

The bill to make striking workers eligible for unemployment benefits would benefit Southern California hotel workers and Hollywood actors and writers who have been on strike for months.

The bills now go to Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until October 14 to decide whether to sign them into law.