Stop AB-1055: Protect ADU Homeowners from New Burdensome Rules

What I Will Do:

AB-1055 will be heard in the Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Community Development on April 24th. To prevent AB-1055 from moving forward, we need seven “no” votes. 

The committee consists of nine Democrats and three Republicans. I anticipate the Republicans  (Assemblymembers Patterson, Ta, & Tangipa) will oppose AB-1055, which means we must secure at least four additional "no" votes from Democratic committee members.

I will request meetings with each of the nine Democratic committee members listed below. While schedules and availability may vary, I will meet with with at least five lawmakers or the campaign will be refunded. My goal in each meeting will be to clearly articulate the harm AB-1055 would cause homeowners and to urge committee members to oppose this unnecessary legislation.

• Matt Haney (Chair, 17)

• Anamarie Ávila Farías (15)

• Jessica M. Caloza (52)

• Robert Garcia (50)

• Ash Kalra (25)

• Alex Lee (24)

• Sharon Quirk-Silva (67)

• Lori D. Wilson (11)

• Buffy Wicks (14)

Why AB-1055 is Harmful:

Under AB-1055, local governments would have the authority to impose burdensome annual certifications on homeowners with ADUs. These property owners would have to prove their units are occupied at least half of every year, adding bureaucratic complications, increased administrative burden, and the risk of penalties for non-compliance.

California’s housing crisis prompted smart ADU reforms: streamlined permits, reduced fines, and relaxed zoning to help families add new living space for aging parents, adult children, or renters. AB-1055 risks reversing these gains. Forcing homeowners to deal with new certification rules and administrative penalties will deter many from building ADUs, just when the state needs more homes the most.

AB-1055 Overlooks:

• The reason California doesn’t have enough housing isn’t that ADUs go unrented – it’s because building new homes is so difficult and expensive in the first place. Complicated regulations, high fees, and slow approval processes drive up costs and limit supply across the board.

• Adding more reporting requirements and enforcement won’t help create more places for people to live – in fact, these steps only discourage the very homeowners who could be adding new, much-needed housing.

• ADUs play a key role in keeping communities multigenerational and affordable – adding policing mechanisms only makes it harder.

• California’s housing law is already among the strictest in the nation; new certification rules add complexity, not solutions.

More Effective Alternatives Would Be:

• Further streamlining ADU permits and reducing unnecessary fees.

• Offering practical support and incentives to homeowners who provide long-term housing.

AB-1055 takes California backward by adding bureaucracy instead of encouraging solutions. The state legislature should reject this bill and redouble efforts to make ADUs accessible, affordable, and attractive for families who want to help solve the housing crisis.

Please support me in opposing this legislation.