SACRAMENTO – The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday passed Assembly Bill 976 by Assembly Member Charles Calderon (D-Montebello) that would prevent cities and counties from enacting any ordinances that would force residential landlords from inquiring about the immigration or citizenship status of any tenant or prospective tenant.

Calderon’s measure comes in the wake of ordinances passed by cities in California and around the Untied States including Escondido, California, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and Farmers Branch, Texas.  The ordinances would have forced landlords to determine the citizenship status of their tenants and evict any tenant who is not a legal resident, or face fines and possible revocation of their business license.  Such laws create a difficult dilemma for landlords: comply with the city ordinance and violate state and federal law, or uphold state and federal law and face sanctions from the cities. In every instance, however, Federal Judges issued restraining orders against the ordinances on the grounds that they violated constitutional due process and supremacy clauses.

“It has been reaffirmed by the courts across the country that only the Federal government may determine who is in this country legally,” stated Assembly Member Calderon. 

The measure is sponsored by the Apartment Association of California Southern Cities (AACSC) and supported by landlord, civil rights, and tenant groups across the state. 

“Landlords have neither the training, nor desire to be de facto immigration officers,” continued Calderon.  “AB 976 will protect landlords in California from being forced into an untenable position.”

Assembly Bill 976 now goes to the Senate Floor for further consideration.