Rent Control Delayed but Not Dead in California
Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Rent Free. This week’s stories include:
- California lawmakers delay a bill to tighten the state’s rent control law.
- Neighborhood activists in Roanoke, Virginia, sue to stop missing middle reforms.
- Arkansas passes accessory dwelling unit reform.
California Rent Control Bill Pulled
The California Legislature will not be tightening the state’s rent control law this year.
This past Tuesday, Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D–San Jose) pulled his bill, Assembly Bill 1157, which would have capped statewide rent increases at residential properties to the lesser of 2 percent plus inflation or 5 percent.
Current state law allows rent increases of up to 10 percent. Kalra’s bill would have also expanded California’s statewide rent control policy to single-family homes and condominiums.
Kalra’s bill isn’t fully dead. KQED reports it will be considered next year in the latter half of the California Legislature’s biennial session.
A.B. 1157 had passed the Assembly’s housing committee. It was just a few years ago that California became the second state in the country (after Oregon) to adopt statewide rent controls.
Kalra’s bill naturally attracted the opposition of the state’s landlords and real estate interests. Some of the YIMBY groups that had supported California’s 2019 rent control law came out against Kalra’s bill as excessively restrictive.
Nevertheless, rent control’s popularity as a solution to high rents is growing. Just last week, the Washington state Legislature approved a statewide rent control measure.
Despite the rehabilitation of rent control’s image, it remains as bad an idea as ever.
Arkansas Legalizes ADUs
Last week, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law House Bill 1503, which requires municipal governments to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on single-family properties.
Big win for affordable housing in Arkansas! ????
Gov. @SarahHuckabee Sanders has signed my bill giving Arkansans the right to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) like back
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
