A post by California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is going viral after he asserted that Governor Gavin Newsom and California Democrats included a $1,350 monthly, 20-year fee for every new single-family home under Assembly Bill 130. The fee, which is connected to a “Vehicle Miles Traveled” policy, was, according to Hilton, “snuck” into the legislation meant to help solve the state’s housing crisis. The claim generated strong reactions on social media.
The post, shared on X by @EricLDaugh about Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, has rapidly gained traction across California’s political circles. In the clip, Hilton accuses Governor Gavin Newsom and state Democrats of including a $1,350 monthly fee for 20 years on every new single-family home within Assembly Bill 130, legislation recommended as a solution to the state’s housing crisis.
The video shows Hilton as he talks to the audience, explaining the fee as a “Vehicle Miles Traveled” (VMT) system that would be used to make homeowners pay for driving related to new buildings. He claims that the proposition is meant to prevent new single-family houses by penalizing motorists, and that Democrats “snuck it into the bill.”
According to Hilton, the alleged fee would effectively cost homeowners over $300,000 across two decades. He claims state leaders are including expensive mandates in bills that purport to increase affordability. calling the policy “sneaky” and “stealthy.” The post has been shared far and wide and has drawn some questions and requests for clarification about what AB130 would actually require.
Public Reactions to Steve Hilton’s Housing Fee Claim
The post sparked heated debate on social media, with some people arguing against imposing additional costs on California homeowners and criticizing the proposed measure as “highway robbery in the guise of a policy.”
Another asked, “How can any crisis be solved by making things more expensive for citizens?” and one added that progressive policies were “ruining a state with so much natural beauty.”
Some also voiced support for Hilton’s stance, with one user writing, “From your lips to God’s ears—may California be blessed with you as governor.”
On the other hand, some people raised doubts about the truthfulness of Hilton’s claims, since no proof of such a fee has been made available to the public. A skeptical viewer wrote, “Without providing ANY CREDIBLE evidence… this is nothing but bullshite from Hilton.”
This event has attracted attention since it crystallizes several pressing California issues – housing affordability, hidden taxes, and political transparency. Given the state’s already high housing costs, word of a substantial unreported charge has been connected with many online, making Hilton’s allegation a focal point in California’s wider discussion about affordability and how the state is run.
As speculation about the post persisted, Hilton’s assertion sparked further controversy in California’s broader housing discussion and in the regulations that determine the state’s future growth.
