Assembly Bill 1611 (Haney) would have prohibited like-kind exchange tax treatment under California law if the taxpayer owned 50 or more “qualified” properties at the time the exchange is completed. The bill was held under submission in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee. 

Senate Bill 1090 (Perez) was originally a place-holder that simply stated legislative intent. The bill was amended and now prohibits any person or entity owning 75 or more single family residences from making an unsolicited offer to purchase real property in a wildfire disaster area after a declaration of a state of emergency. The prohibition would apply for five years. The bill is now pending on the floor of the Senate. CLTA, which has expressed concern over the bill’s lack of a clear enforcement mechanism and potential implications for real estate transactions, is seeking to work with the author on alternative language.

Senate Bill 1307 (Jones) as introduced would have allowed for a pre-conviction order in a criminal proceeding voiding a false or forged instrument. The bill was amended to permit a defendant to stipulate to the voiding of the instrument in lieu of a hearing upon conviction, if the court establishes by clear and convincing evidence that no third parties would be affected.

Senate Bill 1176 (Choi) would have prohibited foreign actors from purchasing agricultural land, but the bill failed passage in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill would have required land held in prohibition of the bill’s requirements to be subject to divestiture.

Prior to recent amendments that heavily modified the bill, Senate Bill 1307 (Jones) as introduced would have substantially amended existing law on post-conviction procedures for a prosecuting agency to file a motion to declare a false or forged deed void under Penal Code Section 115. 

Assembly Bill 1857 (Aguiar-Curry) would enact The Grocery Store Access Act, which as introduced would have made void and unenforceable any covenant, restriction, or condition contained in any deed, contract, security instrument, lease, or other recorded or unrecorded instrument affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in real property that effectively prohibits or restricts the use of that property as a grocery store or supermarket,  defined as “any retailer that sells food items.”

 Assembly Bill 1842 (Harabedian) would enact the California Emergency Mortgage Relief Act.  The bill would authorize a borrower to request forbearance on a residential mortgage loan that has become uninhabitable as a direct result of conditions resulting from an event that was the subject of a proclaimed state of emergency issued by the Governor or by the federal government.  ​

Assembly Bill 1977 (Irwin) makes changes to the existing notary law, including several to the Online Notarization Act. With respect to the Online Notarization Act, this bill would require the Secretary of State to review the course of study proposed by any vendor to be offered pursuant to the Act. ​