SW Riverside News

Senator Kelly Seyarto has introduced a new Housing Bill Package in the California Senate, aiming to align state regulations with recent Supreme Court rulings and enhance local governance. The proposed legislation consists of three bills designed to address different aspects of housing and property management.

The first bill, SB 964, seeks to update California's code following a 2023 Supreme Court decision. The ruling determined that counties are not permitted to retain profits from auctioned properties seized due to defaulted property taxes. Instead, any profits from such sales should be returned to the original property owner. Senator Seyarto emphasized, "In cases of auctioned-off property where the owner has defaulted on their taxes, the government should not be making a profit." He further noted that this principle is supported by the Fifth Amendment.

SB 968 focuses on allowing local governments more flexibility in managing housing units that exceed Regional Housing Needs Allocations (RHNA). Currently, local authorities must meet specific targets for various types of new builds. This bill would permit them to carry over surplus units into subsequent RHNA cycles. "Cost of building is already outrageous in California," stated Senator Seyarto. He believes this measure will help local governments maintain compliance while meeting community needs.

The third bill, SB 1052, addresses recommendations from the State Auditor regarding the Mobilehome Residency Law Protection Program established in 2020. This program has accumulated over $8 million in unspent funds collected as "lot fees" from mobilehome park residents. The bill proposes eliminating the $10 monthly lot fee and enhancing oversight of resident complaints. Senator Seyarto remarked, "The lot fees were not intended to become a burden but to be used to make it easier for residents of mobilehome parks to seek legal aid."

These legislative efforts aim to reinforce ownership protections and empower local governments in California.