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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: March 23, 2026
Half Moon Bay Repeals Rent Stabilization and Registry
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 "Programs that were already in place were repealed," emphasized SAMCAR Government Affairs Director Fernando Peña.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.
Published: March 06, 2026
C.A.R. Hosts 2026 Homeownership Matters Gubernatorial Forum
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (March 6) -- Homeownership emerged as a defining issue in California's 2026 gubernatorial race as six leading candidates gathered in Sacramento for the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.) 2026 Homeownership Matters Gubernatorial Forum, focused on expanding pathways to ownership across the state. Watch the recorded forum on https://www.car.org/meetings/livestream
Published: February 10, 2026
SFAR Petitions to Pause/Change Sprinkler Retrofit Mandate
The San Francisco Association of REALTORS (SFAR) is mobilizing Realtors and their clients to push for major changes and paused implementation of the SF Fire Sprinkler Retrofit mandate. SFAR has put together a petition for Realtors and their clients to sign asking the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to form a Technical Advisory Committee of experts to review the feasibility of the mandate, recommend major changes and exemptions, and to stop implementation and enforcement until the committee has released its findings.
Published: January 08, 2026
NAR Statement on Institutional Buyers
On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, President Trump shared via a Truth Social post that his administration is "taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes" and "will be calling on Congress to codify it". The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) to issued a statement from Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn, sharing that NAR "is encouraged that the administration and members of Congress are focused on addressing the nation's housing affordability and supply crises. We share the goal of ensuring there are enough places for people to live and of expanding access to homeownership—especially for first-time buyers—and ensuring that housing policy strengthens communities rather than limiting opportunity." Read more for additional data and reporting on the impact of institutional buyers on the housing market.
Published: December 30, 2025
Government Affairs Champions Honored at Committee Luncheon
On Wednesday, December 17, 2025 SAMCAR members from the Peninsula, Coastside, and Pacifica Government Affairs Committee gathered at the SAMCAR office for a special holiday luncheon to celebrate accomplishments addressing advocacy issues throughout the year. Lee Ginsburg (Intero Real Estate), Frank Vella (Starboard Commercial Real Estate), and Judy Taylor (Compass) were honored as the 2025 SAMCAR Government Affairs Champions for their dedication to advancing private property rights and advocating politically on behalf of Realtors and housing providers in San Mateo County.
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.