PRESS RELEASE: Housing Bills Will Help Protect Renters From Rate Hikes, Discrimination
SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) applauded the signing of key housing legislation today, which will help protect renters from indiscriminate evictions and exorbitant rate increases. Gov. Newsom also signed two Senate bills that expand discrimination protections for Californians receiving government assistance and for veterans or those who are currently serving the nation in the military.
“With renters making up nearly half of our state, a serious question may keep many of them up at night – ‘How will I stay in my home after the next big rent increase?’ Renters shouldn’t have to make the impossible choice between a roof over their family’s head or paying for basic needs like food and medicine, or worry about being evicted without just cause,” Atkins said. “This legislation means protection for millions of renters. It means stability, and for a family, that’s everything. My sincere thanks to Assemblymember David Chiu, and Senators Holly Mitchell, Steve Glazer, and Jerry Hill for pursuing legislation to uplift Californians and make a positive impact on the housing crisis facing our state.”
The bills signed by Governor Newsom were:
AB 1482 (Chiu, D-San Francisco) imposes a statewide rent cap and prohibits residential property owners from terminating the lease of a tenant that has occupied the property for at least a year without just cause. The anti-gouging legislation limits rent increases to the regional Consumer Price Index (CPI) + 5 percent in any 12-month period, not to exceed 10 percent. The law would remain in effect through 2030.
SB 329 (Mitchell, D-Los Angeles) expands protections against housing discrimination under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act to include federal, state, or local public assistance and housing subsidies as a “source of income.”
SB 644 (Glazer, D-Contra Costa) places restrictions on the amount of money a landlord can charge service members for deposits on rented residential properties and prohibits landlords from refusing to enter into a rental agreement with a service member based on the new security deposit restrictions.
SB 222 (Hill, D-San Mateo) prohibits discrimination because of veteran or military status and specifies that a federal Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher is a source of income.
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Toni G. Atkins is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. Having previously served as Speaker of the California Assembly, she began her tenure in the Senate in 2016. As Senator for District 39, she represents the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Del Mar and Solana Beach. Website of President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins: www.senate.ca.gov/Atkins