Governor Newsom Ends Multiple States of Emergency

As the month of January 2023 came to a close, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation terminating 26 open states of emergency dating back to 2017. These emergency declarations include various areas impacted by fires, prior storms and other incidents including the mpox emergency proclaimed in August 2022, coinciding with the termination of the federal public health emergency on mpox. Last October, the Governor announced that the state’s COVID-19 State of Emergency was to end on February 28, 2023.

California's anti-price gouging statute is no longer be applicable to the areas subjected to these states of emergency. California’s anti-price gouging statute, Penal Code Section 396, prohibits landlords and other businesses from raising rent (or the price of many consumer goods and services) by more than ten percent (10%) following the declaration of a state of emergency by the President, the Governor, or local officials.