Price gouging.

Assembly Members Mark González and Gipson have proposed changes to California's price gouging laws that would extend protections throughout declared emergencies and increase penalties for violations. The legislation modifies existing prohibitions on excessive price increases during emergencies by removing the current 30- and 180-day time limits and instead applying restrictions for the full duration of any emergency declaration.

The bill expands the scope of rental protections by including all residential and commercial properties, regardless of lease term length. It eliminates existing provisions that allowed landlords to exceed the 10% price increase cap when passing through repair and maintenance costs. For businesses and other non-individual entities found in violation, the maximum fine would increase from $10,000 to $25,000.

Local authorities would retain the ability to extend price gouging restrictions in 30-day increments as needed during prolonged emergencies. The legislation preserves existing enforcement mechanisms that classify violations as both criminal misdemeanors and unlawful business practices while maintaining compatibility with local price gouging ordinances that may impose stricter requirements. As an urgency measure, the bill would take effect immediately upon passage to address ongoing emergency situations in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.