AB 1157 Is a Two-Year Bill — Let’s Talk About What It Really Means for California Housing

In April 2025, Assembly Bill 1157 — known as the Affordable Rent Act — was withdrawn from consideration and converted into a two-year bill, meaning it can return as early as January 2026. Although it’s currently paused, the core of the bill is expected to remain the same, and its potential impact on California’s housing landscape is significant.

AB 1157 proposes to make statewide rent control permanent by removing the sunset clause from the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482), which was passed during a declared housing emergency. While that may seem like a procedural update, the consequences are real and far-reaching.

The bill would also lower the maximum allowable rent increase from 5% + CPI to 2% + CPI, with a cap of 5% annually. In a state where inflation, insurance costs, utility rates, and property taxes are consistently rising, this change limits the flexibility of housing providers to keep up with operational expenses — many of which are unpredictable and non-negotiable.

In doing so, AB 1157 touches on more than economics — it affects fundamental property rights, including the right to use, enjoy, and derive income from one’s property. Landlords will still be expected to meet all health, safety, and habitability standards, yet with fewer tools to financially sustain the properties they manage.

This is not about choosing sides. It’s about sustainability.

While the bill is framed as a tenant protection measure — and its goals of housing stability and affordability are important — it does not address the root causes of California’s housing crisis: lack of supply, regulatory delays, and high barriers to entry for new development. Instead, it risks further discouraging housing investment, driving small landlords out of the market, and reducing the long-term availability and quality of rental housing across the state.

We believe there is a better path forward — one that protects tenants without weakening the foundation of property rights or disincentivizing the creation of more housing.

We all want to keep families housed. But we must also ensure that those who provide housing are able to do so responsibly and sustainably.

Sign this petition to urge California lawmakers to reconsider AB 1157 before it returns in 2026. Let’s take this time to advocate for housing policy that balances tenant protection with economic reality — and ensures that we are solving the crisis, not deepening it.

Protect housing. Protect your property. Let’s build a better path forward — together.