In 2021, Assemblymember Rivas leveraged her political capital to move California forward on the critical issue of homelessness and affordable housing. As the author of AB 71, which aimed to establish a permanent source of funding for long-term solutions to homelessness across the state, she created an innovative path to funding the workstream through a state taxation adjustment. By skillfully liaising with community groups and partnering with a diverse collection of stakeholders, Asm. Rivas was able to start an important conversation about the path forward on this issue. This bill was ultimately moved to inactive, but not before it passed three key Assembly committee votes, indicating that the strategic work of Asm. Rivas and others may find a way in the next session.