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Assembly committee advances measure to keep disaster‑displaced families in hotels longer without creating landlord‑tenant status
Summary
AB 299 would permit families displaced by wildfires and other disasters to stay in hotels, motels or short‑term rentals beyond 30 days without creating a standard landlord‑tenant relationship; the committee voted to advance the bill.
Assemblymember Quirk Silva presented AB 299 on behalf of Assemblymember Gabriel. The bill would allow families displaced by disasters (including the recent Southern California wildfires) to remain in hotels, motels and short‑term rentals for periods longer than 30 days without triggering standard landlord‑tenant protections that lodging operators say create legal obligations and disincentives to offer longer stays.
Supporters including representatives of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and housing organizations said the measure would reduce disruptive monthly “room‑shuffling” practices used by some operators to avoid creating tenancy rights and would provide greater stability for families with children and other vulnerable household members. Marcus Seidra, speaking for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, described tens of thousands displaced by the January wildfires and urged committee support.
The California Hotel and Lodging Association said it was in a “support if amended” posture while negotiating clarifications; housing advocates expressed broad support. Committee members praised the bill as a narrowly tailored tool to avoid destabilization of disaster victims while preserving deliberate tenant protections for non‑disaster contexts.
The committee voted to advance AB 299 to the next committee.
