Thank you very much for contacting your state legislators, asking them to vote No on AB 854 (Lee, D-San Jose), a bill that makes it difficult, if not impossible in some cases, to remove your rental unit from the market. Your letters are making a difference. At this moment (Jan. 27), Assembly Member Lee has not taken up the bill for a vote yet on the Assembly Floor.
He is planning to add language to the bill to exempt “small owners.” The language, however, does not truly do that. The language would exempt from the bill a “natural person” who owns two buildings and no more than four units. Of course, we relayed to legislators that rental owners don’t typically own rental housing in their own name. As you know, many owners hold property in a family trust, a partnership, or some other legal entity. We are circling back with lawmakers to make sure they know this amendment does not exempt small owners. Please continue your outreach to your legislator as well on this issue.
Monday, Jan. 31, is the last day that AB 854 can be heard on the Assembly Floor. If Assembly Member Lee is unable to get 41 votes to pass the bill, it will be dead for this year. If he is successful in moving the bill off the Assembly Floor, it will move to the Senate, where we will continue to oppose. We will ask you to write letters to Senators.
Stay tuned for more updates, and once again, thank you for your efforts and outreach on this bill.
