AB 380: Price gouging.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Assembly
Current Status:
In Progress
(2025-03-11: From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (March 11).)
Introduced
First Committee Review
First Chamber
Second Committee Review
Second Chamber
Enacted
Under existing law, upon the proclamation of a state of emergency by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency by the executive officer of any county, city, or city and county, and for 30 days or 180 days, as specified, following the proclamation or declaration of emergency, it is a misdemeanor misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of $10,000, or both that imprisonment and fine, for a person, contractor, business, or other entity to sell or offer to sell certain goods or services for a price of more than 10% greater than the price charged by that person immediately prior to the proclamation or declaration of emergency.
This bill would instead make that misdemeanor applicable for the duration of that proclamation or declaration. declaration and would increase the fine to $50,000. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Under existing law, as described above, it is unlawful to increase the rental price for housing by more than 10%, or evict any residential tenant of residential housing, upon the proclamation or declaration of emergency, except that a greater price increase may be charged if it can be proved that the increase is directly attributable to additional costs for repairs or additions beyond normal maintenance that were amortized over the rental term. Existing law defines housing for purposes of these provisions as any rental housing with an initial lease term of no longer than one year.
This bill would expand the definition of housing to include any rental housing without regard to the length of the initial lease term. The bill would remove the exemption for increasing the rental price by more than 10% for additional repair costs and would make the prohibitions on increasing the rental price by more than 10% and eviction applicable to commercial real property. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Discussed in Hearing
28MIN
