Feb. 2026 ABAG E-News: ABAG Hosting Language Access Workshops; BAHFA Partnership Keeps San Rafael Apartment Complex Affordable; Nominate a Bike Champion of the Year
MTC and ABAG sent this bulletin at 02/05/2026 09:22 AM PST
As part of the Regional Housing Technical Assistance Program (RHTA), the Association of Bay Area Governments is hosting workshops on Feb. 12 and 26 to support local government staff in providing meaningful language access. These full-day, interactive workshops are designed for planners and other public sector staff who outreach to non-English speaking residents.
The workshops will focus on leading effective multilingual meetings and meaningful language access using practical tools, case studies and hands-on skill building. Led by Noemi Gonzalez-Rocha, a community leader, professional interpreter and language justice advocate.
BAHFA Partnership Keeps San Rafael Apartment Complex Affordable
The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) recently finalized a collaboration with Tesseract Capital Group that will help preserve up to 99 affordable homes for families in San Rafael’s Canal District. Through BAHFA’s Welfare Tax Exemption Preservation Program, Tesseract Capital Group will convert The Meridian apartment community into long-term affordable housing.
BayREN’s EASE Home Program Supports Older Adults Aging in Place in Marin County
The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN)’s Efficiency and Sustainable Energy (EASE) Home Program is designed to help Bay Area residents make their homes healthier, more comfortable and energy efficient. With a customer co-pay capped at $1,000, EASE Home makes essential improvements, like insulation and duct-sealing, more accessible for moderate-income households.
2025 New State Housing Laws Webinar Recording Available
Staff from Goldfarb & Lipman LLP joined the RHTA Program to give an overview of new state housing laws passed in the 2025 legislative session. Among the topics covered in this webinar were updates to AB 130/SB 131 (2025) and an overview of SB 79.
Do you know an exceptional bicycle rider, policymaker, educator or advocate making a difference in your county? Spotlight the people who make the Bay Area a better place to live and bike. Nominations for the 2026 Bike Champions of the Year are open until March 1. Winners will be announced in late April, just in time to be celebrated during Bike to Wherever Days throughout May.
ABAG and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) last month approved the Final 2026 Joint Advocacy Program, outlining the agencies’ state and federal legislative priorities for the calendar year.
Top priorities for legislation in both Washington and Sacramento will be guided in large part by Plan Bay Area 2050+, the north star for the agencies’ work in housing and transportation.
Final Plan Bay Area 2050+ Slated for Release in March
After the close of the public comment period on the Draft Plan Bay Area 2050+ in December 2025, staff have been working to review and analyze all comments received to identify any needed refinements to the plan based on public input.
The final Plan Bay Area 2050+ will be available on the Plan Bay Area website in early March. The ABAG Executive Board will consider adoption of the final Plan Bay Area 2050+ at the March 19 meeting.
The Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) recently finalized a collaboration with Tesseract Capital Group that will help preserve up to 99 affordable homes for families in San Rafael’s Canal District. Through BAHFA’s Welfare Tax Exemption Preservation Program, Tesseract Capital Group will convert The Meridian apartment community into long-term affordable housing.
Staff from Goldfarb & Lipman LLP joined the RHTA Program to give an overview of new state housing laws passed in the 2025 legislative session. Among the topics covered in this webinar were updates to AB 130/SB 131 (2025) and an overview of SB 79.
