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Government Affairs

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

Fernando Peña
SAMCAR
850 Woodside Way, San Mateo CA 94401 (map)
(650) 696-8200
 
 
Photo of City of Redwood City Sign
Published: October 14, 2025
Attention Housing Providers: Redwood City Adds Tenant Protections
Voting 4-2 with one council member absent, the Redwood City Council on Monday, October 13, 2025, acted in favor of adding three new provisions to the Anti-Displacement Program. Both SAMCAR and the California Apartment Association (CAA) argued against the ordinance, which now includes up to four months of relocation assistance (dismissing state law's one month requirement), expands the property eligibility assistance from five units to two units or more (going after small mom and pop housing providers), minimum lease terms, and providing tenants with the right to return after a substantial remodel at the federal Fair Market Rate (not at previous rent).
Read More about Attention Housing
Photo of Foster City City Hall Source: www.fostercity.org
Published: August 26, 2025
Foster City Drops Charter, Transfer Tax, Commercial Vacancy Tax...
On August 25, 2025, the City Council in Foster City decided not to pursue a ballot measure in November 2026 to become a charter city, impose a residential property transfer tax, and commercial vacancy tax. Realtors, homeowners, and commercial property owners in Foster City faced the possibility that the council, by changing the city charter, would gain greater taxing authority to impose the taxes on future home sales and empty commercial properties. Your voices were heard and thanks to SAMCAR's local advocacy efforts Realtors, homeowners, and commercial property owners in Foster City and can now breathe a sigh of relief that they will not have to pay these added taxes.
Read More about Foster City Drops
For Rent Sign
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).
Read More about San Mateo Passes
Group photo from Legislative Day 2025
Published: May 08, 2025
REALTORS Score Two Major Victories on Legislative Day!
On Wednesday, April 30, your voices were heard loud and clear -- and the impact was immediate. Thanks to the powerful presence of more than 2,200 REALTORS at the State Capitol, two of the most concerning bills we opposed were pulled from consideration before the day was even over. Read more about these bills and SAMCAR's participation at Legislative Day.
Read More about REALTORS Score Two
California Association of REALTORS: A History of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act
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.).
Read More about A History of the
Photograph of red FOR RENT sign in front of green lawn
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.
Read More about San Mateo, Foster
850 Woodside Way, San Mateo, CA 94401   -   (650) 696-8200   -   www.samcar.org   -   facebook.com/samcar.realtors
Printed on August 3, 2026 from https://www.samcar.org/government-affairs/
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