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The Redwood City Council voted unanimously on June 8, 2026, to delay final action on a proposed rent control ballot initiative, requesting a supplemental economic impact report before deciding whether to place the measure before voters.

A proposed rent control initiative introduced by a local organizing group, not the city council, has officially qualified for the November 2026 ballot in Redwood City, setting the stage for a major local campaign over housing policy and affordability.

SAMCAR members should continue paying close attention to the Bay Area Air District's controversial mandate banning the sale and installation of natural gas water heaters beginning on January 1, 2027, followed by gas furnaces on January 1, 2029. While the regional board recently approved a nine-month delay to the water heater ban, serious concerns remain about the financial impact this policy will place on homeowners, housing providers, and renters in the Bay Area, including throughout San Mateo County.

Legislative Day is the California Association of Realtors signature legislative event. And legislative Day 2026 did not disappoint. Over 2,500 California REALTORS® descended on the state capitol during the C.A.R. Spring Business Meetings and took advantage of the opportunity to meet and discuss real estate related issues directly with their state legislators and staff. Read more about SAMCAR's participation in Legislative Day including hot topics and legislation and meetings with elected officials.

Staying informed on legislative changes is key to supporting your clients and business. In this latest podcast episode, SAMCAR Government Affairs Director Fernando Peña shares insights into current policy discussions impacting real estate across the region.

On March 17, 2026, the Half Moon Bay City Council made a rare and significant decision voting 3–2 to repeal both the rent stabilization and rental registry programs. "Programs that were already in place were repealed," emphasized SAMCAR Government Affairs Director Fernando Peña. "That does not happen often." This outcome reflects months of focused advocacy led by SAMCAR on behalf of homeowners, Realtors, property managers, and housing providers in Half Moon Bay and the surrounding unincorporated communities -- the very individuals who make up the backbone of the local rental housing market.