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AB-299 • 2026

Motels, hotels, and short-term lodging: disasters.

Motels, hotels, and short-term lodging: disasters.

Housing
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Gabriel
Last action
Official status
Chaptered
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states that 'disaster' and prior housing damage are defined elsewhere ('as specified'), but does not provide those specific definitions in the provided summary.

Hotel and Motel Eviction Rules for Disaster Victims

This law states that guests staying in a hotel or motel because a disaster damaged their home are not treated as tenants under eviction laws until they have stayed there for 270 days.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the rules so that a guest staying in lodging due to a defined disaster is not considered a tenant under eviction laws until they have lived there for 270 days.
  • Applies only if the guest's previous home was substantially damaged, destroyed, or made uninhabitable by a defined disaster.
  • Sets an end date of January 1, 2031, when these special rules will stop applying.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Guests living in motels or hotels because their previous home was damaged or destroyed by a disaster
  • Hotel and motel owners who must follow new eviction procedures for these guests

Terms To Know

Unlawful detainer action
The legal process a landlord uses to evict a tenant.
Tenancy
A situation where someone rents and lives in a place as their home, giving them specific rights under the law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill refers to 'disaster' and prior housing damage being defined elsewhere but does not list those definitions here.
  • It only applies if the guest's previous housing was substantially damaged, destroyed, or made uninhabitable.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Chaptered

Official Summary Text

Motels, hotels, and short-term lodging: disasters.