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A pair of bills that would hinder both the creation and protection of housing along California’s coastline are off the table for the remainder of 2017.
AB 663 by Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, would give the state’s Coastal Commission control of housing policies in coastal areas, stripping that power from local governments.
The other bill, AB 1129 by Assemblyman Mark Stone, D-Santa Cruz, would prevent many coastal property owners from reinforcing their buildings against rising sea levels and erosion.
Tagged: Legislation
All three housing-production bills sponsored by CAA this year have now won approval in the state Assembly and have advanced to the Senate, taking them roughly halfway to the governor’s desk.
The latest victory for CAA-sponsored bills came May 30, as the Assembly passed AB 943 by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles. This bill would raise the voter threshold for passing no-growth measures in California cities.
A bill approved by the Assembly this week aims to make sure tenants are made aware of flooding risks before leasing rental properties in flood-prone areas.
Under AB 646 by Assemblyman Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, a landlord with “actual knowledge” that his or her property is in a flood-hazard area would have to disclose this information to prospective tenants. Property owners with actual knowledge include those notified by a government agency, as well as owners required to carry flood insurance for the property.
Tagged: Legislation
The Assembly has passed a CAA-sponsored bill to help prevent local governments from arbitrarily denying housing projects.
The bill, AB 678 by Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, D-San Fernando, adds much-needed teeth to California’s Housing Accountability Act.
The Housing Accountability Act requires that local governments follow certain legal mandates before denying housing projects that comply with their general plan and zoning rules.
AB 678 would impose penalties, including fines for governments that fail to comply with the act. That money would be placed in a housing trust fund for the construction of affordable housing. The bill now heads to the Senate for… Read More
Tagged: Affordable housingLegislation
The California Assembly on Monday approved a bill that would crack down on rental property owners who discriminate against tenants based on immigration status.
AB 291 by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, won approval on a 54-8 vote with 9 abstentions. The bill now advances to the Senate.
Under the bill, rental housing providers would face fines for reporting existing tenants and occupants to immigration agents.
Tagged: Legislation
The California Apartment Association has called on members of the Assembly to reject a bill that would undercut the state’s density-bonus law and make housing in San Francisco more expensive.
Tagged: Affordable housingLegislation
A CAA-sponsored bill that would boost construction of micro apartments — especially in areas near public university campuses and public transit — has advanced to the state Senate.
On Thursday, the Assembly unanimously approved AB 352 by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles. The bill is now awaiting a hearing date in the Senate’s Rules Committee.
The bill, one of three housing-supply bills sponsored by the California Apartment Association this year, would help prevent local governments from establishing roadblocks to “efficiency dwelling units,” which usually measure 220 square feet or less. Like AB 943, Santiago authored this piece of legislation.
Amid fierce opposition from CAA, lawmakers have once again fallen short in their efforts to weaken California’s Ellis Act – the 1985 law that protects a property owner’s right to exit the rental housing business.
Since 1985, the Ellis Act has provided an important safety valve for landlords operating in rent controlled jurisdictions, guaranteeing they can walk away from the business when rent control becomes too burdensome.
Tagged: Ellis ActLegislationRent Control
A pair of California Apartment Association-sponsored bills that would help solve the statewide housing crisis advanced Wednesday from the Assembly Local Government Committee on a unanimous vote.
The bills, AB 943 and AB 352 by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, D-Los Angeles, would raise the voter threshold for approving no-growth measures and support the development of micro-apartment units, respectively.
Tagged: Affordable housingLegislation
In California, many air districts fail to meet federal health standards for fine particulate matter, of which wood smoke is a significant source. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, changing out one old, dirty, inefficient wood stove removes as much pollution as removing five old diesel buses from the road.
This year, SB 563 by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, proposes to establish the Wood Smoke Reduction Program, which would include funding to replace old, wood stoves. The California Air Resources Board would administer the program in coordination with local air districts.
Tagged: Legislation