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Government Affairs
Government Affairs is the voice of the REALTORS® in local government. Our goal is to protect the REALTORS® of San Mateo County from ordinances, rules and regulations that would be a hindrance to the success of their businesses. Government Affairs also works to advance one of SAMCAR's primary objectives: the preservation of private property rights throughout San Mateo County.
The Government Affairs staff informs and advises the Board of Directors and SAMCAR's Legislative Committees regarding pertinent land use and zoning policies, state and federal legislation, and local political issues. In conjunction with SAMCAR REALTORS®, the Government Affairs staff executes the legislative and political directives of the Board of Directors.
Government Affairs serves as a liaison between SAMCAR and the California Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®, and assists with member mobilization for state and federal issues of importance to the real estate industry.
Government Affairs Director
Published: November 19, 2025
San Mateo Adopts State Law Tenant Protections
On Monday, November 17, 2025, the San Mateo City Council voted to pass two local ordinances dealing with policies extending state law provisions to include relocation assistance for no-fault evictions for tenants with a tenure of less than a year from 12 months to 11 months and adhere to requirements for property owners to notify tenants displaced due to substantial rehabilitation when the new or substantially remodeled unit becomes available. Thank you to all the SAMCAR members who made your voices heard, calling on the council to direct staff to focus instead on building on the successful emergency rental assistance program, align ordinances to what is already found in State law, increase housing supply, tackle restrictive permitting, and educate both renters and housing providers on the numerous resources available in the community.
Published: July 29, 2025
San Mateo Passes Rental Assistance Program
The City of San Mateo City Council unanimously passed an emergency rental assistance program at its Monday, July 28 meeting. The call for such a program came from recent community outreach and engagement meetings that the city conducted, study session testimony, and input from SAMCAR and the California Apartment Association (CAA).
Published: May 07, 2025
A History of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act
The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, passed in 1995 after a ten-year effort, remains a crucial protection for California property owners and future renters against extreme and damaging local rent control ordinances. Authored by State Senators Jim Costa and Phil Hawkins, it emerged in response to growing concern over cities imposing draconian rent control policies that stripped owners of their basic rights and discouraged investment in rental housing, ultimately threatening future housing availability for renters. Read more for a fact sheet provided by the California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.).
Published: April 23, 2025
San Mateo, Foster City Move to Update Rental Regulations
On Monday, April 21, SAMCAR and the California Apartment Association (CAA) mobilized members to attend City Council proceedings in San Mateo and Foster City to speak on behalf of housing providers in opposition to city proposals to increase rental regulations in excess of state law. While both cities moved to advance some new rental regulations, SAMCAR presented a comprehensive case in defense of property rights and found common ground on the need for rental assistance and better education about the plentiful resources already available to support the needs of both tenants and housing providers.
Published: April 11, 2025
Sue Walsh Inducted into RPAC Hall of Fame
It is with great pride that SAMCAR congratulates Sue Walsh on her recent induction into the National Association of REALTORS RPAC Hall of Fame at the $50,000 level. She joins an elite group of individuals that believe strongly in organized real estate and the REALTOR Action Fund as demonstrated by her exceptional level of investment. Congratulations to Sue Walsh on this extraordinary accomplishment and well-deserved recognition!
Published: March 26, 2025
Share Free Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Options with Clients
Many residents may not start to think about their options for disposing toxic waste—including paints, batteries and fertilizers—until the very last minute when they are moving. Sometimes they even ask their Realtor to take it in, which is actually illegal unless the realtor signs a special waiver. To help Realtors avoid this issue, San Mateo County Health has provided an informational postcards that you can share with clients, which explains their toxic waste disposal options. Clients of SAMCAR Realtors who bring the pamphlet to their HHW drop-off event appointment will receive a Home Depot gift card that may help them with the moving process.