Condo no-go: California defect reform fails at deadline

California’s push to overhaul condominium construction defect liability stalled at the finish line. The bill passed the state Senate late Sunday night, but the session expired without a vote in the General Assembly. Assembly Bill 1903 lost forward momentum after making its way through a legislative amendment grinder. Multiple changes sent the bill back and forth between chambers, even in its final days. California YIMBY, a pro-housing advocacy group, pushed AB 1903 among several bills this year. The organization fumbled one, but managed to propel other housing bills to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. California has spent years trying to address housing affordability by encouraging more housing types. Housing advocates hoped to resurrect languishing condo construction by amending the state’s 2003 Right to Repair Act. A related bill would have raised liquidated damages when buyers walk away from a sales contract. The California Association of Realtors stalled that bill in committee. Condo defect reform initially seemed likely to pass. It cleared the Assembly in May with no “no” votes. The Senate, however, had other ideas and grafted significant amendments to the bill, starting in the Senat...