California's Tiny Home Boom Signals Hope In Housing Crisis Though Challenges Remain

Here are the morning’s top stories on Thursday, May 8, 2025…

• A bill introduced in the state legislature by Sacramento Democratic Assembly member Maggy Krell aims to increase penalties for loitering to solicit minors for sex. But a provision specifically aimed at soliciting 16- and 17-year olds has divided state Democrats, and given Republicans a political opportunity to criticize their opponents.
• California’s tiny home industry is experiencing a boom in production, which signals hope for a new era of homeownership. The boom also could face road blocks, such as soaring construction prices and local zoning challenges.

Sex Solicitation Bill Garners Criticism From Both Sides of Political Aisle 

A new bill introduced aimed at combatting underage sex solicitation has sparked controversy, dividing Democrats and eliciting criticism from Republicans.

This year, Democratic Assemblymember Maggy Krell of Sacramento proposed Assembly Bill 379. It seeks to enhance penalties for those who solicit sex from 16 and 17 year olds. But after that policy was taken out of the bill, Krell made an unusual move to buck her party’s leadership and side with Republicans.

Democrats have since reversed course and announced they would add language enhancing penalties for soliciting sex from older teens back into the bill. Under the new agreement it would remain a misdemeanor if the offender is within three years of the minor’s age.

California’s Emerging Tiny Home Industry Could Make Path To Homeownership Easier, Though Challenges Loom

A new boom in the tiny home industry could signal promise for a Californians who are conditioned to think of home ownership as out of reach.

Across the state, villages of tiny homes are cropping up as solutions to the homelessness. Some counties, such as Nevada County, have passed ordinances earlier this year to legalize living in homes on wheels–which usually cost between $100,000 to $200,000– to make homeownership more accessible.

That being said, external factors could present challenges to tiny home production. Despite changes to state law that have made it easier to site tiny homes in neighborhoods, there have been hostility from local zoning officials and neighborhood groups at times. On a national level, the Trump Administration’s recent tariffs have also raised the cost of modular home production.