Legislative Issues

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.).

The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) issued the following statement on the passage of C.A.R.-sponsored bill AB 2992 (Nguyen):

"The California Association of REALTORS applauds Gov. Newsom for signing C.A.R.-sponsored bill AB 2992 (Nguyen) into law as part of a package of bills that will strengthen protections for California consumers," said C.A.R. President Melanie Barker, a Yosemite REALTOR. "By mandating buyer broker representation agreements, consumers will have more choice and more clarity about the services they are getting from the REALTOR they choose to help them through a complex transaction.

We commend Assemblymember Nguyen for her commitment to safeguarding consumers and upholding the integrity of our industry."

The California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.) has prepared a number of resources to provide you and your clients with information about wildfire-related Defensible Space and Home Hardening laws. Read more for Legal Q&A, Quick Guides and Slide Decks.

Proposition 19 is fully in effect as of April 1, 2021, protecting millions of older homeowners, homeowners with severe disabilities, and victims of wildfire or natural disaster. Resources for REALTORS and your clients are now available at C.A.R.'s new Prop 19 website: www.caprop19.org as well as marketing materials for your clients from C.A.R.—"The Opportunity Is Now"

The California State Assembly passed Assembly Bill fourteen eighty-two and the bill has been signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. SAMCAR and the Coalition for Housing Equality, with the support of the California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.), is providing information to REALTORS and property owners about the implications of this new state law and how to comply. For questions, please contact the C.A.R. Legal Hotline at (213) 739-8282 or legalhotline@car.org

On Wednesday, April 17, SAMCAR initiated our new quarterly "Speaker Series" with a legal update from C.A.R. Associate Counsel, Jana Gardner, covering details of the recent California "Real Estate Clean Up Law" package, landlord/tenant law changes, new forms and reminders about a REALTOR member benefit: C.A.R.'s legal hotline. Read more for helpful resources and to download the "Legal Update" presentation deck.