Legislative Update - August 25, 2022

State Legislative Wins: Get More Updates at SCRHA Education Conference & EXPO

As SCRHA reported last week, we have successfully defeated numerous bills harmful to the industry.

SB 1105 (Hueso) would have created a regional unelected housing agency with the power to impose numerous new taxes to fund the creation of affordable housing. SCRHA was strongly opposed to the bill since its introduction and was pleased to be able to stop the bill in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SB 1026 (Wieckowski), also stopped in Appropriations, would have granted a prospective tenant the right to obtain a residential energy efficiency disclosure statement and require the owner/agent of a rental unit to make specified residential energy efficiency disclosures to a prospective tenant before entering into a rental agreement.

AB 2383 (Jones-Sawyer) was held in the Senate Appropriations committee. It would have limited the ability of rental housing providers to use criminal background checks during the rental process and proposed convoluted, hard-to-follow rules that could hamper your ability to keep your communities safe.

There has been news lately on AB 2559 from San Diego area Assemblymember Chris Ward. SCRHA opposed the bill, which, as originally drafted, could have mandated the acceptance of reusable screening reports. As a result of our lobbying, the bill was amended so that housing providers do not have to accept reusable screening reports, and it clarifies procedures for housing providers that choose to accept them. The bill is now on the Governor’s desk pending signature or veto.

Click here to register for EXPO and attend the Legislative Update for a full rundown of bills we defeated and those that have or might become law. 

Chula Vista Tenant Ordinance Scheduled for September 13

The Chula Vista City Council is expected to consider the Tenant Protection Ordinance at its September 13th meeting. The original draft was considered back in May but was not voted on. Council provided guidance to city staff at the time and asked them to return with a revised version. The next hearing on the ordinance has been rescheduled several times (July, then August, now September), citing the attendance of councilmembers as a reason. Unfortunately, the latest draft presented to stakeholders is more restrictive than the last version. The most notable change pertaining to “no-fault termination of tenancy” would implement just cause protections from day one of tenancy! And sadly, the punitive relocation costs in the ordinance remain. SCRHA is preparing to oppose the ordinance and mobilize against it.

We will need Chula Vista property owners and residents to help to make their voices heard! Make sure you are signed up to receive our Action Alerts. As soon as more information and an agenda are available, SCRHA will notify members.