Election Day 2016 is now one for the history books. No matter where your partisan political preferences may rest, your non-partisan REALTOR® Party has been hard at work throughout this election cycle to help elect REALTOR® friendly candidates in the U.S. House of Representatives, the California State Senate and the California State Assembly. To that end we at the Citrus Valley Association of REALTORS® are pleased to announce that ALL of the REALTOR® Party candidates in our service area have been elected or in some cases re-elected.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, where we need to keep the Mortgage Interest Deduction and 1031 exchanges, we congratulate:
Congressmember Judy Chu – 27th Congressional District
Congressmember Pete Aguilar – 31st Congressional District
Congressmember Grace Napolitano – 32nd Congressional District
Congressmember Norma Torres – 35th Congressional District
Congressmember Ed Royce – 39th Congressional District
In the California State Senate and the California State Assembly, where we need to stop the potential for Professional Service Taxes and need to keep the Independent Contractor status of REALTORS®; we congratulate:
Senator Mike Morrell – 23rd Senate District
Senator Anthony Portantino – 25th Senate District
Senator Ling Ling Chang – 29th Senate District
Assemblymember Marc Steinorth – 40th Assembly District
Assemblymember Chris Holden – 41st Assembly District
Assemblymember Blanca Rubio – 48th Assembly District
Assemblymember Ed Chau – 49th Assembly District
Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez – 52 Assembly District
Assemblymember Philip Chen – 55th Assembly District
Assemblymember Ian Calderon – 57th Assembly District
That is 15 races in which the REALTOR® Party competed and 15 races the REALTOR® Party won! A 100% victory for REALTORS® We know each of them and we know that they will fight for REALTORS®.
At CVAR we ask you to get involved with the real estate politics that affect your business. Join the advocacy of CVAR, CAR and NAR to keep all REALTORS® protected and nationally recognized. The REALTOR® Party is a powerful alliance of REALTORS® and REALTOR® associations working to protect and promote home ownership and property investment. The REALTOR® Party speaks with one voice to advance candidates and public policies that build strong communities and promote a vibrant business environment. Get involved with the real estate politics that affect your business. Without the advocacy of the REALTOR® Party, victories such as those above would not be possible. We ask you to join the advocacy of the REALTOR® Party by making a contribution to the REALTOR® Action Fund. Your participation will help to ensure future victories.
As Winston Churchill once said: “Many forms of government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst from of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
Legislative update, learn about the status of these bills:
AB 790 (Quirk-Silva) Consumer Legal Remedies Act Will help prevent PACE lenders from using technical arguments to evade their obligations when a senior whose home has been put at risk because of a PACE loan seeks relief under the CLRA.
AB 1095 (Cooley) Affordable Rental and Owner-Occupied Housing Adds homeownership opportunities for low-income individuals to the programs that can be funded by the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program beginning July 1, 2022.
SB 539 (Hertzberg, McGuire, Allen) Statutory Implementation of Proposition 19b Provides necessary clarifications to ensure for proper implementation of Proposition 19’s provisions statewide. These clarifications help ensure Proposition 19 is implemented consistently throughout California, as well as provide certainty to qualifying homeowners and owners of family farms.
March 2021
Hot Issue Update – C.A.R. Clarifies Pro Act Federal Labor Bill
Earlier this month an “Opinion” article was published in Inman News about H.R. 842, the PRO Act. The PRO Act is a labor bill that touches upon different aspects of the employer and employee relationship. The focus of the article is the possibility that the PRO Act could make changes to the ability of REALTORS® to do business as independent contractors. The opinion piece inferred passage of the bill by the Senate was imminent. “This is simply not the case,” reports C.A.R. “This bill, as currently written, will not achieve the necessary votes in the U.S. Senate to pass.”
This topic, of vital consequence to REALTORS®, is a good example of the work that C.A.R. and NAR do to support and allow you to do business. Both have worked for years to educate members of the Legislature and Congress on the importance of REALTORS® having the choice to be independent contractors or employees.
Last year, C.A.R. was successful in amending AB 5 and, thus, protecting the ability of California REALTORS® to continue their half-century practice as independent contractors. C.A.R. continues to assist and support NAR’s efforts to maintain its members’ independent contractor option as lawmakers debate H.R. 842 and other bills that deal with this issue. We expect to be successful in these efforts. Additional information may be found at:
With the Legislature up and running in full force, CVAR is sharing this update on three CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® sponsored bills. For two of the bills, the focus is to help ensure transparency on the costs attached to housing and housing production. The third focuses on reducing the costs to construct affordable housing.
Direct fees on residential parcels of land have been a growing local government finance tool since the creation of Mello-Roos and the establishment of benefit assessment districts. These districts allow special fees to be imposed on property owners to finance public improvements like park maintenance, water, electricity, sewage and drainage, infrastructure and more. AB 119 would create more transparency for the buyer about these fees before entering into the transaction. It would require the County Auditor/Controller to post the combined direct levies accessed on real property along with the current tax rate on their website. Additionally, if a County Auditor/Controller posts the contact information for each direct levy accessed within their jurisdiction, that notice shall also include a range fees accessed on individual parcels of real property subject to the special district’s assessment.
Home production cost increases are often passed along to buyers in the form of higher home prices. Sponsored by C.A.R., AB 244 would require the state’s housing agencies to update the California Cost Study, last released in October 2014, to provide actual costs to constructing affordable and market rate housing. This transparency of these costs is crucial to solving the state’s housing supply crisis.
AB 571 (Mayes) Density Bonus: Fee Reduction to Construct Below-Market Rate Unit
Fees and costs associated with the construction of affordable units are often passed along to buyers in the form of higher home prices or can increase the amount of subsidy needed to build affordable housing units. Sponsored by C.A.R., AB 571 prohibits local governments from assessing affordable housing fees on the deed restricted affordable units contained within a density bonus application. Affordable deed restricted housing should not be required to pay a fee intended to construct other affordable housing as it simply increases the cost of the affordable housing being built. This fee only serves to increase costs to construct deed restricted affordable housing, making it less likely that developers maximize the affordable unit set aside within their density bonus application.
June 26, 2020
C.A.R. Legislation – November 2020
On June 26 the California State Legislature passed a strong bipartisan measure (Assembly Constitutional Amendment 11) co-sponsored by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) and the California Professional Firefighters that is poised to be placed on the November ballot. This new ballot initiative is known as “The Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act” (ACA 11).
This is great news as it builds on C.A.R.’s original initiative, strengthening the provisions we care most about and incorporates dedicated funding for fire protection and emergency response to safeguard millions of lives in communities across the state. The new initiative will continue to expand Proposition 13 property tax portability for all homeowners over 55 years old, people with severe disabilities, and wildfire victims by removing unfair location and cost restrictions to allow homeowners to move anywhere in the state. In addition, it will open up housing inventory throughout California, creating home ownership opportunities for first-time homebuyers.
This legislative solution passed through the California State Legislature with two-thirds support in the State Assembly and State Senate with strong bipartisan support. Together, C.A.R. and the California Professional Firefighters built an unprecedented broad and diverse coalition including local elected officials, business groups, labor, agriculture, Republicans and Democrats. Some of the supporters include the California Farm Bureau, California Fresh Fruit Association, California Forestry Association, California Business Roundtable, California Building Industry Association, California Business Properties Association, California Cattlemen’s Association, as well as wildfire victims, local elected officials, school officials, and senior groups.
This updated initiative generates hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue for local governments and school districts without raising property tax rates. It also creates a historic dedicated Fire Response Fund providing needed revenue to help protect millions of homes and lives across the state, including dedicated revenue for historically underfunded fire districts in rural and urban communities.
In addition, the initiative will provide added tax relief for California’s family-owned farms and ranches. The additional tax savings for a farmer or rancher will help protect generational farming.
Lastly, the initiative continues to constitutionally protect the right for parents and grandparents to pass the family home to their children and grandchildren so they can afford to live in the home as intended by Propositions 58 and 193. Since family transfer benefits have been under attack and face potential elimination, this initiative protects family homes for Californians.
The next step is for Governor Newsom to sign legislation in the next few days that will officially place ACA 11 on the ballot.
We are in an even stronger position to pass this important initiative that will improve housing affordability, benefit communities, and all Californians. I appreciate your support. Our team will be providing you with updates soon on how to get involved.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Radsick C.A.R. President
SB 50: Senate Rejects Transit Density Bill
SB 50, the controversial proposal in the California legislature that would have rolled back zoning requirements in urban areas around transit, fell three votes short of the 21 needed to advance to the State Assembly.
Senate Bill 50 was aimed at scaling back local zoning rules that limit the density of housing near transit lines and job centers. There are reports that the bill could return for reconsideration. But the clock is ticking for Sen. Scott Wiener to collect votes. Under the Legislature’s rules, the bill would need to clear the Senate by last Friday in order to advance to the Assembly.
Speaking on the Senate floor , Wiener argued that restrictions on the scale of new buildings imposed by cities and counties in the last 50 years have exacerbated the state’s affordable housing shortage and smog-producing urban sprawl.
“We have a policy in California that it’s not a priority to have enough housing for those who need it,” said Wiener. “Restrictive zoning puts a hard cap on our ability to get out of this housing crisis.”
Allowing developers to construct larger apartment buildings in areas already well-served by transit, argued Wiener, would also give more people alternatives to driving.
In its current form, SB 50 would reduce minimum parking requirements and density restrictions applied to housing developments near train stations, bus stops with frequent service, and areas with a high number of jobs. Cities would also have to allow up to four units on lots now exclusively reserved for single-family homes.
Local governments would have until 2023 to come up with their own plans to add more housing units and decrease transportation emissions—or abide by the rules laid out in the bill.
Impact for Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, where the bill could impact zoning rules for nearly half the city’s land, the City Council voted unanimously last year to oppose SB 50. Echoing criticisms from affordable housing advocates, local leaders argued that the bill did not do enough to address the needs of low-income renters who would likely be unable to afford newly built apartments without affordability requirements.
The bill has since been amended, and Wiener said the previous week that affordability requirements would be added in the coming months. He also emphasized that the bill includes demolition protections to avoid renter displacement—and that Los Angeles would be effectively exempted from many of SB 50’s provisions due to existing incentives for affordable housing development near transit.
“We’re not all the way on this bill, but we’ll get there,” he said.
Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said promises of future affordability measures and anti-gentrification stipulations already added weren’t enough to address the concerns of both renters and homeowners in areas impacted by redlining and other segregationist policies.
“Single-family homeowners are not a monolithic group,” said Mitchell, pointing out that many of the South LA residents she represents own their homes. “We have single-family homeowners that are holding on by their fingernails.”
Wiener spokesperson Catie Stewart says the senator hasn’t “figured out next steps yet” but is “committed to addressing the housing crisis.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills into law last week meant to address the housing/homeless crisis. AB 1482 caps rent increases in multi-family structures, SB 330 other limits public hearings on developments. READ MORE
C.A.R. Red Alert – Restrictive Rent Caps
UPDATE – Sept. 10, 2019: Senate Passes 1482 The bill now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk; he has said he will sign it.
Assembly Passes AB 1482
Now Assemblymember David Chiu, author of AB 1482, essentially combined two with newly amended bill text:
This bill would, with certain exceptions, prohibit an owner of residential property from terminating the lease of a tenant that has occupied the property for at least 12 months without just cause, as defined.
The bill would require, for certain just cause terminations that are curable, that the owner give a notice of violation and an opportunity to cure the violation prior to issuing the notice of termination. The bill would require, for no-fault just cause terminations, as specified, that the owner assist certain tenants to relocate, regardless of the tenant’s income, by providing a direct payment of one month’s rent to the tenant, as specified. […] The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2023.
In this case, a “just cause” means failure to pay rent, “substantial breach of a material term of the rental agreement, […] refusal, by the tenant to sign a new lease that is identical to the previous lease, after the previous lease expired,” illegal conduct, damage to the unit, and similar complaints, according to Curbed.
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C.A.R. OPPOSES UNLESS AMENDED
C.A.R. has been negotiating in good faith with the bills’ authors in an attempt to make reasonable amendments to both bills, thus removing C.A.R.’s opposition. As of now, those negotiations have stalled. As a result, C.A.R. OPPOSES both AB 1482 (Chiu), which creates a very restrictive statewide rent cap, and AB 1481 (Grayson and Bonta), which establishes statewide “just cause” evictions.
Assembly Member
PIN Number
Twitter™ Handle
James Ramos
3040
@AsmJamesRamos
Chris Holden
3041
@ChrisHoldenNews
Blanca Rubio
3048
@Blanca_E_Rubio
Freddie Rodriguez
3052
@AsmRodriguez52
Ian Calderon
3057
@IanColderon
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Urge Your Senator to Oppose Legislation that Forces Landlords to Participate in Section 8!
5/21/19
C.A.R. OPPOSES SB 329 (Mitchell) because it effectively forces ALL residential rental property owners to participate in the voluntary Section 8 housing program by entering into a legally binding contract with a government agency – the provisions of which may be extremely difficult to fulfill. SB 329 will be considered as soon as TODAY on the Senate Floor.
Action Item
Call your Senator TODAY! Urge a NO Vote on SB 329!
Call 1-855-215-0152
Enter your NRDS ID or PIN number followed by the # sign to be connected to your legislator’s office.
When staff answers the phone, you can use the following script: “Hi, this is (insert your name). I’m a REALTOR® from your district. Please ask the Senator to Vote No on SB 329. Don’t force rental property providers into contractual obligations that they may not be able to meet.”
The REALTOR® Action Fund (RAF) and REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) are lobbying against laws that hurt the real estate industry and make home ownership less affordable for clients.
CVAR is urging members to do their part to fight upcoming legislation that could devastate the California real estate industry.
The work that RAF and RPAC do includes raising and spending money to educate and elect candidates who understand and support issues that are important to our industry. We know that REALTORS® can make a difference. Each year CVAR sends REALTOR® members who support RAF to Sacramento to Legislative Day, sponsored by C.A.R., to meet and educate our legislators about issues impacting real estate.
“California REALTORS® cannot afford to ignore what occurs in the halls of government because Real Estate is one of the most regulated industries at the local, state and federal level,” according to C.A.R.
Support the fight for legislation that helps YOU do business–and your clients get into homes!
CVAR Members Are Making a Difference in Sacramento
Tell a Friend about RPAC / RAF and what it can do for their business during our Phone-a-friend for RPAC / RAF Event.
We had so much fun last month with our first-ever Phone-a-Friend, but if you missed out, we will host our second of three Phone-a-Friend events next week. The two-hour session from CVAR Headquarters, 504 E. Route 66, Glendora, will take place from 9:30 a.m.-noon.
This is an opportunity for REALTORS® to have a direct impact on legislation that affects the real estate industry! If you’re a REALTOR® and want to make a difference now, please click this link!
H.R. 3700 was passed by the U.S. House 427-0. Despite passing with NO OBJECTIONS, the U.S. Senate has not acted on H.R. 3700.This legislation provides significant benefits to taxpayers, homebuyers and the real estate market by:
Removing a burdensome and expensive FHA Condo approval process
Reducing FHA restrictions on the number of condos available to homebuyers
Permanently streamlining Rural Housing Service loan processing
More Information on NAR’s efforts to pass H.R. 3700:
On Tuesday July 5th, The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to put a measure on the November ballot that would levy a one-and-a-half cent per square foot parcel tax on properties countywide to fund parks development and maintenance.
If approved by voters, the parcel tax is estimated to raise roughly $95 million annually. The annual tax bill for a 1,500-square-foot house would be $22.50.
The board’s vote was 3-1. Supervisor Don Knabe voted against the measure because a sunset clause that would end the tax in 35 years was eliminated. Supervisor Michael Antonovich was absent for the vote.
The Safe, Clean Neighborhood Parks, Open Space, Beaches, Rivers and Water Conservation Measure would replace funding under Proposition A, first passed more than 20 years ago. The last of that Proposition A funding is set to expire in 2019.
Supporters noted that the measure seeks to raise $10 million more than the original Proposition A.
In 2014, the board tried to replace Proposition A funding with Measure P, which fell short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage, with 62.8 percent in favor.
The new measure has a greater needs-based component, though 50 percent of dollars raised will go back to the communities where they were raised.
Advocates said parks are about more than play, citing studies that green space can boost health and help keep neighborhoods safe.
The parks assessment found that about 51 percent of county residents do not live within a 10-minute walk of a park.
The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations opposed the measure.
A representative for the Motion Picture Association of America warned that the tax could impact future production decisions, saying it would amount to a five-fold increase over what its members currently pay.
Priorities for spending the money — should the measure pass — have been set based on meetings with residents from 188 study areas aimed at identifying each community’s top 10 parks projects. Thirty-five percent of funds will be tagged to pay for those projects.
Another 15 percent will be used to fund parks maintenance in the communities where taxes were levied. Thirteen percent will go to high-needs communities.
Another 13 percent will be used for environmentally-oriented projects, including beach and waterway clean-up; with 13 percent more for regional trail and accessibility projects that connect urban areas to nature.
The balance will go to related job training for youth and veterans and to administrative costs.
Should the measure pass, the county will only have a fraction of the money needed to complete the $8.8 billion in priority projects identified by the area study groups and another $12 billion in deferred maintenance.
A two-thirds majority of November voters is required for passage.
The NAR has filed a petition with the U.S. Patent Office challenging patent infringement claims by companies that demand payment from real estate companies for “old and widely available” technology.
The action was taken to protect real estate professionals who are allegedly being victimized by “patent trolls,” according to the NAR. One company singled out is Data Distribution Technologies (DDT), which has sent letters to real estate companies demanding payment for infringing on its patent. But DDT is considered a “patent troll,” NAR reports, because its “business” is buying over-broad patents and sending “license letters” to users of the products.
“With this action, we’re telling the company and other patent trolls that our industry won’t tolerate these kinds of tactics against innocent real estate professionals who use well-known, ordinary technologies and business methods,” said NAR Associate General Counsel Ralph Holmen. “We intend to help protect members from being forced into cost-of-litigation settlements based on over-broad, invalid patents.”
NAR filed what is known as an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. While the IPR is pending, most courts will stay any related litigation under the same patent. A win for NAR will make it difficult for the company to proceed against other real estate companies with similar over-broad patent claims.
“We’re sending a message to this company, and more broadly to any company that relies on over-broad, invalid patents coupled with illegitimate ‘troll’ patent litigation tactics to make money, that the real estate industry is prepared to fight back,” Holmen said.
The Patent Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board is expected to respond to the Petition in about four months.
Support Your Business The Citrus Valley Association of REALTORS® is dedicated to advocating for real estate professionals and their clients in the political arena. We want to make it easy for you to get involved and support your business!
Get the Call for Action From Anywhere!
The new REALTOR® Action Center mobile app contains a host of features to help you VOTE, ACT and INVEST while on the go.
Receive a notification alerting you to a Call for Action. The new mobile alert format will make participation a snap. No forms to fill out. Short, fast and easy!
Mobile Investing: Make your annual investment to support the Realtor Party Action Committee via your phone!
Action Profiles: The app contains a summary of your REALTOR® Party engagement, including a list of open action items and actions you have already taken.
Advocacy Reports: Track your state and local associations’ advocacy efforts to help us reach our annual 15% goal.
REALTOR® Party Tracker: Learn how your state and local associations are using NAR programs to build political strength in your own backyard. Find out what tools and programs NAR is providing our association, and how much money those programs cost.
What RPAC Does and Why We Urge You to Support It
Since 1969, the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) has promoted the election of pro-REALTOR® candidates across the United States. The purpose of RPAC is clear: REALTORS® raise and spend money to elect candidates who understand and support their interests. The money to accomplish this comes from voluntary contributions made by REALTORS®. These are not members’ dues; this is money given freely by REALTORS® in recognition of how important campaign fundraising is to the political process. RPAC doesn’t buy votes. RPAC enables REALTORS® to support candidates that support the issues that are important to their profession and livelihood.
When Congress is considering legislation that affects the real estate industry, NARcalls on its members to act. Simply by contacting your Member of Congress through an e-mail, Tweet, or a phone call, you can ensure that your business remains strong. NAR members join together and speak with one loud, powerful voice. It does make a difference! What’s Happening on Capital Hill?
One of the most important services organized real estate provides is representation in the halls of government. Stay up to date with what is going on and visit our Government Affairs section of the website to read the most current political news.
National Government Affairs News
The Washington Report is a weekly publication compiled by the Government Affairs division of the National Association of REALTORS®, covering legislative and regulatory policy activities affecting all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. Click to Read the Washington Report
Receive Government Affairs News via Email
To receive government affairs news via email, Subscribe to NAR’s Weekly Report newsletter and check Legislative & Regulatory Issues.
California Government Affairs News
The Citrus Valley Association of REALTORS® encourages its members to be familiar with issues that directly impact their business and to support state and federal initiatives to ensure a viable real estate market. Read California Government Affairs News
Why Political Involvement?
Since 1969 RPAC has been promoting the election of pro-REALTOR® candidates across the United States. During the last federal election cycle alone, RPAC contributed over $12 million to pro-REALTOR® candidates to Congress, making it the number one trade association political action committee in the nation.
Why has RPAC been successful? In America the exercise of good government has its foundation in the participation of its citizens in politics. By definition of the work you do, REALTORS® are contributors to the American dream- home ownership. REALTORS® make it possible for people to bring value to their communities, their lives, to schools and to the future. Increasingly REALTORS® are facing forces from many directions that threaten their ability to help bring about the American dream for more people. Increasing health care premiums, the economy, property tax burdens, rent controls, impact fees and the taking of private property for the public domain are only a quick handful of issues that somewhere, everyday REALTORS® confront.
If Not You, Who?
That is why it is vitally important that REALTORS® be politically active: to take on the responsibility of protecting the values and rights we hold dear. If not REALTORS®, then who? No one knows a community better than a REALTOR®. It would be difficult to believe that a local no-growth group would represent your real estate business interests, or that those employed by the local government know best how much and where to spend the tax dollar better than you do. REALTORS® are the experts on their communities. REALTORS® know the lay of the land, the families, the best schools, the neighborhoods, and the leaders. With REALTORS® in virtually every community in the nation, you are in a strong position to be on the front line as either a proponent or a defender.
Failure to be involved politically can and likely will result in someone else filling the vacuum left by you. That may sound okay at first; because we are sure someone else will do the job and see things as we do. That is until one discovers that the voices being heard may be contrary to wise business planning and a threat to property owners and their rights. If you as a REALTOR® do not speak out, get involved, and help shape your community, someone else will. It is a good bet that they won’t be supportive of your position.
On the national level, we give our money to those in Congress who both understand and support REALTOR® issues. We look to build the future by putting RPAC dollars in places that will help advance the interests of Real Estate professionals. RPAC is the only political group in the country organized for REALTORS®, run by REALTORS® and exists solely to further issues important to REALTORS®.
SB 50, the controversial proposal in the California legislature that would have rolled back zoning requirements in urban areas around transit, fell three votes short of the 21 needed to advance to the State Assembly.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed two bills into law last week meant to address the housing/homeless crisis. AB 1482 caps rent increases in multi-family structures, SB 330 other limits public hearings on developments. 
Tell a Friend about RPAC / RAF and what it can do for their business during our Phone-a-friend for RPAC / RAF Event.
REALTOR® Action Center 