which allocates $10 million in new funding for the Armenian American Museum. During a 2022 meeting with the Armenian National Committee of America, Portantino expressed a desire to improve trade relations between California and Armenia. Zoning regulations and Housing In 2017, Portantino voted against SB 35, which streamlined the housing construction process in California. In February 2019, Portantino introduced a bill to create a “California Housing Crisis Awareness” specialized license plate program to raise an estimated $300,000 per year to fund affordable housing, before administrative costs. The bill later died in committee. In May 2019, Portantino, as Senate appropriations committee chair, used a pocket veto to temporarily block SB 50, a bill that would enact reforms to address the California housing shortage by reducing local control (such as allowing more apartment construction near public transit and in suburbs), from leaving committee to enter the Senate for debate and voting. Proponents of the bill accused Portantino of abusing his powers to deny Senate Bill 50 a debate and a vote in the Senate. The Los Angeles Times wrote that Portantino's opposition to the bill was expected, but that it was a surprise that he would not allow the bill to advance out of committee. Due to Portantino's action, the bill was not considered by the Senate until 2020. In 2021, Portantino killed a bill that would have put an end to minimum parking requirements for certain new housing construction near transit stations. In October 2021, Portantino criticized the construction of 98 townhouses on the location of a bowling center and recreation center in Burbank. Portantino questioned the legality of the housing development. References External links Official Campaign web site Join California Anthony Portantino Democratic Party California state senators 1961 births Albright College alumni Living people Democratic Party members of the California State Assembly 21st-century American politicians People from Long Branch, New Jersey People from La Cañada Flintridge, California Appropriations Committee member, California State Senate Candidates in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections