The California Apartment Association is preparing to fight what’s almost certain to be a major statewide, legislative push to broaden the reach of rent control.

The rent control debate heads to the Capitol after a number of cities have considered either introducing or expanding the policy.

In Sacramento, where the 2016 legislative session began this past Monday, tenant advocates have the Costa-Hawkins Act in their cross hairs.

Under Costa-Hawkins, cities can’t impose rent control on housing built after 1995. The act also exempts single-family homes and condos, regardless of construction date. Without the protections of Costa-Hawkins, rent control would have an even chillier effect on residential development.

Local calls to weaken or circumvent Costa-Hawkins have already begun, including a proposal last month by San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin to expand rent control in The City.

With numerous pushes to expand rent regulations, it’s a matter of time before a bill emerges taking on Costa-Hawkins directly.

Another state law that protects landlords’ rights, the Ellis Act, has become a familiar target in Sacramento.

Over the past two years, Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, has tried unsuccessfully to weaken this law, which protects a landlord’s right to leave the rental housing business — particularly when staying a landlord causes a financial hardship in rent regulated communities. At this point, it’s unclear whether Leno will try again in 2016, and CAA is monitoring the situation.

Also this year, a number of bills that failed passage in 2015 are expected to resurface. These proposals cover everything from managing bed bug infestations to requiring water sub-meters in new construction to curtailing criminal background checks on prospective tenants.

AUDIO EXTRA

To hear CAA’s Debra Carlton discuss these bills and more, click on the audio player below.

Audio Player