Information provided by the Office of Robert Rivas.

On Sept. 11, the California Legislature passed AB 1783, the Farmworker Housing Act of 2019 introduced by State Assemblyman Robert Rivas. The bill, which aims to provide housing for farmworkers in California, will head to Governor Gavin Newsom for consideration.

“I am proud of my colleagues in the Legislature, who have stood up for the needs of farmworkers and their families,” said Rivas. “This bill will provide the opportunity for children of farmworkers throughout the state to climb out of homelessness and move toward the California dream.”

According to a press release from Rivas’ office, AB 1783 creates a new streamlined process and cuts through red tape to build housing on agricultural land. AB 1783 focuses state financial support for farmworker housing that is dignified, permanent and family-oriented, rather than for a temporary guest worker program, the release said.

“I thank Assemblyman Robert Rivas, the son of farmworkers, for standing up for our hardworking families who deserve decent, safe housing in California,” said labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta in the release. “I am in strong support of AB 1783, which fills the desperate need for farmworker housing.”