Proposed Bill, A.B. 246, the “Rent Roll-Back and Freeze Bill” Has Been Amended

Contributed by the Davidovich Stone Law Group

A.B. 246, previously known for its attempt to limit rent increases in Los Angeles County, has taken a sharp turn. What started as a proposal to freeze rent hikes following wildfire emergencies has been rewritten entirely.

What’s changed? The bill has been “gutted and amended” — a legislative move that replaces the original content while keeping the bill number. It now centers on protection for tenants affected by delayed Social Security payments. Under the revised version, titled the Social Security Tenant Protection Act of 2025, landlords will face new limits on serving eviction notices when federal benefit payments are interrupted.

Highlights of the Current Proposal:

• Eviction Restrictions: During a declared Social Security payment interruption, landlords may not proceed with evictions based on unpaid rent if the tenant submits a signed statement citing the interruption as the reason for nonpayment.
• Defined Trigger: The bill defines an interruption as a delay of three or more calendar days beyond a tenant's scheduled benefit payment date.
• Notice Requirements: If landlords serve a 3-day notice to pay or quit during this period, it must include specific language notifying tenants of these temporary protections and include a declaration form.
• Tenant Declarations: Tenants who submit the form within 15 business days gain protection from the rent owed during the covered period.
• Effective Timeline: These rules would apply until at least January 20, 2029.

This shift introduces a new set of responsibilities for property owners. What was once framed as rent control in emergency zones now operates as an eviction moratorium based on federal payment systems — raising questions about how housing providers are expected to respond during federal administrative delays. For more information, go to https://davidovichlaw.com/.