Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee advances temporary Los Angeles County rent freeze amid wildfire displacement debate
Summary
AB 246 would temporarily pause rent increases in Los Angeles County for one year after the January wildfires; supporters said the pause would curb exploitative rent spikes, while landlord and business groups warned of harms to small landlords and legal conflicts with local laws and market mechanisms.
Assemblymember O'Brien introduced AB 246 to the Assembly Judiciary Committee, proposing a temporary suspension on rent increases across Los Angeles County following the January wildfires, a measure the committee amended and sent onward from the hearing.
"This bill will pause rent increases across L.A. County until March 1, 2026," Assemblymember O'Brien said, adding that violators would face civil penalties up to $10,000. O'Brien and supporters framed the bill as a short-term stability tool to prevent landlords from exploiting displaced residents seeking replacement housing.
Cynthia Banning, a former restaurant manager whose workplace in the Palisades burned, told the committee that employees displaced by the fires were struggling with rent hikes while also seeking new work. "Over half of the Rieland staff have been employed there for more than 20 years," Banning said, describing…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
