Overview
- The Assembly Housing Committee voted 10-0 Wednesday to advance Senate Bill 1090, known as the Keep Altadena Land in Altadena Hands Act, and the measure now moves to the Assembly Local Government Committee for further consideration.
- SB 1090, co‑authored by Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez and Assemblymember John Harabedian and sponsored by L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, would carve out Altadena from state rules (SB 9 and SB 1123) that make it easier to split single‑family lots into multiple units.
- The bill grew from large local mobilization after the January 2025 Eaton Fire, when residents and town groups documented at least 13 lots with subdivision activity and voiced concern that outside investors were buying distressed properties.
- Supporters cite a report quoted by Sen. Pérez that investor purchases rose to about 49% of sales between February and July 2025 compared with roughly 10% in 2024, a figure presented as evidence of speculative buying but described in coverage as limited and sourced to proponents.
- Opponents told committees the bill could block a financial path for some homeowners to rebuild by preventing them from using lot‑split tools, and lawmakers will weigh those claims, the temporary sunset date and possible wider precedent before the measure could reach the Assembly floor in August.