California's Proposition 33 Could Reshape Rent Control Laws

The ballot measure seeks to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Act, allowing local governments to expand rent control amid a housing crisis.

Proposition 33 aims to grant local jurisdictions in California the authority to implement or expand rent control laws, currently restricted by the Costa-Hawkins Act.
Supporters argue that the measure would provide immediate relief to tenants facing high rent burdens, while opponents fear it could deter new housing development.
The measure has sparked a significant financial battle, with real estate groups raising over $100 million to oppose it, while advocates have contributed more than $46 million in support.
If passed, Proposition 33 could influence national housing policy, as other states may look to California's decision as a precedent for expanding rent control.
Critics claim that rent control could exacerbate housing shortages, but proponents argue it is a necessary tool to address the affordability crisis in the short term.