California is considering getting into the construction insurance business to help factory-built housing scale up and cut costs. The move is an effort to put a dent in the state's housing shortage. Lawmakers led by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks rolled out a package of bills that trims rules and standardizes approvals. One bill stands out. It has the state backstop surety bonds for housing factories by covering part of payouts in extreme failures. Supporters say factories get stuck in a doom loop. Developers demand bonds. Insurers demand a track record. Factories cannot get work to build one. Critics say direct funding could help more, and taxpayers could face unknown risk.

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Millbrae’s finances are on track and its budget is once again balanced, with an expected $45.5 million in both expenditures and revenue.Â