California Housing Update – May 2025
Salinas City Council votes 5-2 in favor of rescinding four renter-protection ordinances.
Monterey County Now – May 1
A bill that would have lowered the statewide cap on rent increases won’t move forward in the California Assembly this year, but the effort isn’t over. Assemblymember Ash Kalra, D–San José, who authored the bill dubbed the Affordable Rent Act, said the push to further restrict how much landlords can raise the rent for long-term tenants and expand protections to more renters would become a two-year endeavor.
California Bill to Expand Rent Control Is Pulled for the Year by Bay Area Lawmaker
KQED – April 30
A bill that would have lowered the statewide cap on rent increases won’t move forward in the California Assembly this year, but the effort isn’t over. Assemblymember Ash Kalra, D–San José, who authored the bill dubbed the Affordable Rent Act, said the push to further restrict how much landlords can raise the rent for long-term tenants and expand protections to more renters would become a two-year endeavor.
California Renters’ Caucus Unveils Legislative Agenda to Combat Exploitative Landlords and Tackle Housing Crisis
Contra Costa News – April 24
SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Legislative Renters’ Caucus, chaired by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), unveiled its 2025 legislative priorities this week, introducing a package of bills aimed at curbing landlord fees, increasing housing transparency, and expanding tenant protections.
The caucus, formed in 2022, has doubled its membership this year and now includes both chairs of the Assembly and Senate housing committees — the first time both positions have been held by renters.
Bill to Require Mandatory Refrigerators, Stoves in All CA Rental Units Moves Up In Assembly
California Globe – April 3
Assembly Bill 628, authored by Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) would require that a stove and a refrigerator that are maintained in good working order and are capable of safely generating heat for cooking purposes and capable of safely storing food, be added to the list of characteristics required for a rented dwelling unit. Under AB 628, permanent supportive housing, residential units in hotels, and places that offer a shared or communal kitchen space would be exempted from the bill. Should the bill pass, it would go into effect beginning on January 1, 2026.
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