In 2023, leaders from COPA congregations, schools, and nonprofits spoke with over 400 families, hearing dozens of stories about families that had paid thousands of dollars in unnecessary application fees just to apply to live in an apartment. Sometimes, families learned later that the apartments they had applied for didn’t even exist.
In response, COPA leaders reached out to member institutions, building a powerful constituency across Central California. Leaders at Holy Cross engaged leaders at Temple Beth El and Mujeres en Acción, who in turn reached out to other institutions as the team grew. All in all, 13 institutions joined the process and, together, built a relationship with Assemblywoman Gail Pellerin.
COPA leaders:
- researched the issue with state policy experts and attorneys - worked with Assemblywoman Pellerin to craft new legislation,
- testified in both the Assembly and State Senate (in 3 different languages!) and
- overcame vested opposition by crafting a compromise with power groups.
Vested power groups like the California Apartment Association and the California Association of Realtors initially indicated opposition to the emerging legislation, so COPA sat down with them, heard their concerns and helped craft a compromise that saw them officially withdraw that opposition. Leaders also persuaded state senators with long-term relationships with these power groups to co-sponsor the bill.
On Sunday, September 30 of 2024, the Governor signed COPA’s bill, AB 2493, into law impacting approximately 15 million Californians. AB 2493:
- stops property managers from charging application fees for units that don’t exist (dubbed “Ghost units”) or charging fees for waitlists;
- allows families to only pay one application fee for each rental company, as opposed to filling out an application and paying a fee for each unit; and
- guarantees an itemized receipt to renters in the application process to promote financial transparency and accountability.
COPA leaders concretely learned that power is built by forming relationships through one-on-one meetings and house meetings. Said Carlos Romero of Holy Cross,
“I was there at the first house meeting where we heard this might be an issue. Now, we've taken it all the way to Sacramento and passed a law protecting families in our institutions.”
Tenants Seek Ban on rental application fees in Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz Local [pdf]
AB 2493 - Tenancy Application Screening Fee, California Legislative Information