Introduction to Rent Control Bill
A bill that would have tightened price controls on rental housing in California and expanded eviction protections died suddenly Tuesday after landlords and pro-housing allies mounted a furious attack in Sacramento.
Assemblymember Ash Kalra, a Democrat from San Jose, introduced Assembly Bill 1157 in February to little fanfare with a coalition of labor and tenant groups as co-sponsors. Kalra pitched the draft legislation as a stopgap against loopholes in the landmark package of tenant protections state lawmakers passed in 2019.
Initial Reaction from Landlord Lobbying Group
Landlord lobbying group California Apartment Association didn’t take it very seriously. That was in part because similar rent control proposals that cropped up as ballot measures over the past decade have all failed.
“California voters have rejected these types of extreme rent control proposals on the ballot three separate times in the last decade,” CAA spokesperson Nathan Click said in a statement Tuesday.
Change in Momentum
But that changed when the bill made it out of the Assembly housing committee April 24 and found legs.
Nonprofit political action committee California YIMBY quickly joined the offensive and warned of the bill’s grave consequences for the supply side of California’s housing crisis in an opposition statement last week.
Debra Carlton, CAA’s chief lobbyist, also made an impassioned plea to lawmakers to reject the bill in a hearing before the housing committee’s vote.
“Rent control discourages new housing, Carlton said. “It does not resolve supply, and it exacerbates affordability.”
Additional Reporting
With additional reporting provided by Lauren Elkies Schram.
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Conclusion
The sudden death of the rent control bill in California marks a significant victory for landlords and pro-housing allies. The bill, which aimed to tighten price controls on rental housing and expand eviction protections, was met with fierce opposition from groups such as the California Apartment Association and California YIMBY. While the bill’s demise may come as a relief to some, it also highlights the ongoing struggle to address the state’s housing crisis.
FAQs
Q: What was the purpose of Assembly Bill 1157?
A: The bill aimed to tighten price controls on rental housing in California and expand eviction protections.
Q: Why did the California Apartment Association initially not take the bill seriously?
A: The association didn’t take it seriously because similar rent control proposals had failed in the past.
Q: What was the reaction of California YIMBY to the bill?
A: California YIMBY joined the opposition and warned of the bill’s grave consequences for the supply side of California’s housing crisis.
Q: What was the final outcome of the bill?
A: The bill died suddenly after landlords and pro-housing allies mounted a furious attack in Sacramento.
