AB 380: Price gouging.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Under existing law, upon the proclamation of a state of emergency by the President of the United States or the Governor, or upon the declaration of a local emergency by the executive officer of any county, city, or city and county, and for 30 days or 180 days, as specified, following the proclamation or declaration of emergency, it is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of $10,000, or both that imprisonment and fine, for a person, contractor, business, or other entity to sell or offer to sell certain goods or services for a price of more than 10% greater than the price charged by that person immediately prior to the proclamation or declaration of emergency.

This bill would instead make that misdemeanor applicable, for those provisions for which the misdemeanor is applicable for a period of 30 days following the proclamation or declaration of emergency, for a period of 60 days. The bill would, for an entity or person other than a natural person, make that misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $25,000. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

Under existing law, as described above, it is unlawful to increase the rental price for housing by more than 10%, or evict any residential tenant of residential housing, upon the proclamation or declaration of emergency. Existing law defines “housing” for purposes of these provisions as any rental housing with an initial lease term of no longer than one year.

This bill would expand the definition of “housing” to include any rental housing without regard to the length of the initial lease term. The bill would make the prohibitions on increasing the rental price by more than 10% and eviction generally applicable to commercial real property. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 16

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 29, 2025In committee: Held under submission.
2. August 18, 2025In committee: Referred to suspense file.
3. July 8, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 1.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
4. June 27, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
5. June 19, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.
6. June 18, 2025Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
7. June 5, 2025In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
8. June 4, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 49. Noes 9. Page 2064.)
9. May 29, 2025Read third time and amended. Ordered to third reading. (Page 1788.)
10. May 27, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
11. May 23, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
12. May 23, 2025From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 23).