California review highlights appraisal reforms, outreach after AB 948; bureau asks to extend sunset

The Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (Bureau) outlined regulatory and operational changes at a joint Assembly and Senate sunset review hearing in Sacramento, telling lawmakers the agency has implemented the Fair Appraisal Act (AB 948), launched training and outreach to address appraisal bias, and improved licensing processing.

Kimberly Kirkmire, director of the Department of Consumer Affairs, said federal law requires states to license appraisers for “federally related transactions” and described the Bureau’s licensing categories and education-accreditation work. “Federal law requires all states to license and certify real estate appraisers who conduct appraisals for federally related transactions,” Kirkmire said.

Bureau chief Angela Jamont told the committees the bureau has updated regulations, recruited subject-matter experts, conducted a 2023 demographic survey of licensees and implemented required training after AB 948 took effect. Jamont described outreach and national engagement tied to President Biden’s PAVE task force and said California was an early adopter of rules aimed at eliminating appraisal bias: “This was occurring and is occurring,” she said when asked whether racial and ethnic valuation gaps were documented nationally.

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