California Housing Legislation (2017-2018)

Imagine completing a multimillion-dollar project, performing quality work, paying your subcontractors, and satisfying the owner, only to discover that a temporary contractor license lapse could prevent you from recovering payment for that work or pursuing claims for extra work. For decades, that was the reality under California Business and Professions Code section 7031.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed multiple state housing bills into law that will take effect January 1, 2027, introducing significant changes to housing development regulations across the state. These new laws establish streamlined ministerial approval processes for various housing types, from high-density transit hub projects in major cities to townhomes and factory-built housing, while also reforming ADU regulations, permit processing requirements, and density bonus provisions. Will these legis

California's Starter Home Revitalization Act receives significant enhancements through Senate Bill 1116, expanding site eligibility criteria, limiting local zoning restrictions, and invalidating certain private deed covenants to accelerate small-lot residential subdivisions. The legislation introduces streamlined 60-day ministerial approvals while establishing new rules for lot size averaging, height restrictions, and concurrent permit processing that fundamentally reshape the pathway for starter home devel

Though highly touted recent legislative enactments addressing California's housing crisis have focused on streamlining high-density, multifamily infill development (see Holland & Knight's previous alert...

Landlords of rent stabilized buildings in New York City have filed a lawsuit challenging the rent freeze passed by the Rent Guidelines Board, questioning the Board's independence and data integrity. With operating costs rising 31% over five years while the Board voted 7-1 for a freeze affecting 1 million apartments, the case raises critical questions about the balance between tenant protection and landlord viability.

Florida's new Section 489.1295 establishes licensing consequences for contractors who fail to timely pay subcontractors and suppliers, effective July 1, 2026. The statute creates disciplinary exposure for knowingly or willfully withholding payment, though it includes important exceptions for bona fide disputes and contractual payment terms. Contractors must now navigate potential license sanctions including fines up to $10,000, suspension, or revocation when payment disputes arise.

A California Court of Appeal has invalidated San Francisco's Empty Homes Tax, ruling that the Ellis Act—which protects property owners' right to exit the rental market—also shields them from being forced to enter it through vacancy taxation. This landmark decision raises critical questions about the viability of similar residential vacancy taxes that other California municipalities have enacted or are considering as housing policy tools.

Illinois landlords will face new rules governing rental fees, disclosures, and application charges beginning January 1, 2027. House Bill 3564 adds “Rental fee transparency and limitations” to the Illinois Landlord and Tenant Act (765 ILCS 705/35).

North Carolina's Senate Bill 445 eliminates the longstanding exceptions that allowed homeowners associations to restrict American and North Carolina flag displays, fundamentally changing two decades...

Facilitating the use of modern manufacturing methods in the production of manufactured and other factory-built housing eligible for federal housing programs.

On October 16, the FTC announced that it has finalized its "click to cancel" rule, that will require sellers to make it much easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions.

On July 10, 2026, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection announced the adoption of its “Click-to-Cancel” rule requiring businesses to provide consumers...

The renewable energy industry is facing another significant tariff development. On August 6, 2026, a Presidential Proclamation confirmed that the government’s Section 232 investigation...

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has released a new framework for evaluating banks' deployment of artificial intelligence and agentic AI systems in their business operations. This guidance establishes how examiners will assess AI through existing risk management disciplines rather than creating separate regulatory requirements, with review intensity scaled to each use case's potential consequences and level of human oversight.

Over the past year, industry has had a front row seat as the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA” or the “Agency”) decides just how much leeway it wants to afford the manufacture, marketing, and sale of peptide products, and just where it wants to draw the line. Despite the recent decision of FDA’s Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (“PCAC”) to recommend a number of peptides for inclusion on the 503A bulks list process — a move that represents a potentially more permissive stance toward peptide regulation, at least in terms of what can and cannot be compounded under 503A...

On September 30, 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) published a series of notices[i] seeking public comment on significantly expanding the definition...

Published in The Procurement Lawyer, Volume 62, Number 1, Fall 2026. © 2026 by the American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved.

The CFPB is examining potential consumer protection violations, not simply revisiting the OCC’s supervisory findings. The agency is reviewing whether account closures or restrictions...

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has issued Executive Order 658, establishing comprehensive permitting and regulatory standards for data centers exceeding 25 MW of peak electricity demand. The Order mandates community benefits agreements, clean energy procurement protocols, and coordination across multiple state agencies to ensure responsible development that protects ratepayers, communities, and the environment. This action positions Massachusetts alongside other states implementing stricter oversight o

California will have a range of new laws going into effect aimed at protecting children from online features. Governor Gavin Newsom signed five bills (AB 1709, AB 2246, AB 1856, SB 1119, and SB 867) into law on September 10, 2026.