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Committee approves temporary eviction exemption to allow tenants to shelter displaced wildfire survivors and pets
Summary
AB 311 would temporarily prohibit evictions of tenants who shelter people or pets displaced by declared emergencies; the Judiciary Committee advanced the bill after testimony from county officials and housing groups, noting a need for relief options for displaced households.
Assemblymember McKinner (joint author with Speaker Rivas, as stated in committee) presented AB 311 as a reinstatement of prior law to allow tenants to temporarily house people or families and their pets displaced by a declared state of emergency without risk of eviction. The author said the January Los Angeles County wildfires rendered thousands of residents homeless and that friends and family who could temporarily shelter survivors may be constrained by lease language.
Supporters included the California Apartment Association, which testified in favor of the bill and described the measure as balancing tenants’ and landlords’ rights while enabling temporary sheltering arrangements. Martha Guerrero, representing the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, described the fires’ scale and economic impact and urged passage so that generosity by tenants to shelter survivors would not be punished by eviction.
The Humane Society (testifying as Humane World for Animals) said it supported the bill’s intent but asked for continued conversations about nonrefundable fee language related to pets. No opposition testimony was recorded in the committee.
Committee members and witnesses said the measure would create a temporary eviction exemption and help mitigate homelessness risk by allowing displaced people and their pets to stay with friends or family who rent. The committee voted and the motion to advance the bill carried; the author said she would continue to work with stakeholders on final implementation details.
Why it matters: AB 311 creates a narrowly tailored, temporary protection enabling renters to host displaced wildfire survivors and their pets without facing eviction, expanding informal sheltering options during a disaster recovery period.
What’s next: The bill advanced from the Judiciary Committee; the author and stakeholders will continue discussion on pet-fee language and administrative details.
