Howard Koh's Weekly Vlog Update - August 6, 2024

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

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'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

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

Consumers have seen a recent and vexing trend of additional credit card charges at restaurants and stores. And, business owners are understandably confused...

For a company that has historically tried to squash new uses of its content, the December OpenAI Sora deal reads as an "if you can't beat them, join them" moment.

The meteoric rise of AI has brought upon new legal issues especially in the copyright space. Currently, the following ongoing litigations are at the forefront of the intersection of AI...

The new year's ball will be dropping before we know it. As we finish out 2025, New York employers must be "checking their lists"...

Tennessee has enacted its first comprehensive non-compete law outside healthcare, establishing a $70,000 salary threshold below which such agreements are prohibited and creating a presumption of reasonableness for agreements lasting two years or less. How will this middle-ground approach affect employers' ability to protect their business interests while providing greater predictability in enforcement?

A recent court decision in Thomson Reuters v. Ross Intelligence highlights new legal risks for AI training.

On November 17, 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law Senate Bill S3539/A4167 (the "Five Percent Retainage Bill"), which amended certain sections of New York's General Business Law...

Meister Seelig & Fein LLP maintains a strategic presence across multiple U.S. states with offices located in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, and Tennessee. This geographic distribution enables the firm to serve clients throughout major business centers on both coasts and key markets in between.

AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok are quickly becoming an everyday tool – much in the way that "googling" something has become an integral part of daily life.

On June 20, 2023, the New York State Legislature passed a bill, which would have banned the creation and enforcement of non-compete clauses in agreements with covered individuals.