California State Legislature Interrupted by COVID-19

During the last week of June 2020, some of the State’s legislators tested positive for COVID-19. Initially, just two legislators out of about 50 tested positive. These two legislators had been working along with several other members of the legislature and their staff members on the State Assembly floor during a vote on the budget. Then, all of the Legislators and staff members that were in proximity of the two COVID-19 infected legislators were advised to get tested for the Coronavirus.

As a result of the testing, the latest, but still unofficial count is 4 Legislators and 11 staff members have tested positive with COVID-19.

The State Legislature, which had been due back in legislative session from a brief recess on July 13, 2020 have now been delayed and it is uncertain when the legislative session will be back in session. Some in the Legislature are pushing to significantly delay returning to session and, if and when the Legislators return to making new laws, they will likely only be working on absolutely necessary legislation. According to an internal email obtained by the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles that was sent by the Speaker of the Assembly to elected officials and their staff members:

“As you know there has been an increase in the number of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Capitol. We have taken the step of closing the building to allow for deep cleaning this week. I have instructed my staff to develop a schedule for hearings and other Assembly business that will allow us to conduct our work but minimize the days in the Capitol building. As a result, our July 13th return will be delayed.”

Cutting the list of proposed bills, while this may postpone some of the more egregious attacks on rental property owners, the more bills that are postponed or cut means that there will be that many more new bills proposed for next year’s Legislative session, of course, assuming the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. Accordingly, if these delays or cuts in proposed legislation occur, next year we may likely see the introduction of more than 5,000, or roughly 2,000 more than the “normal” 3,000 or so bills introduced each year.

For next year, housing will certainly be the “top” if not one of the major priorities. In other words, next year we can look forward to another very busy year full of even more senseless ideas.