Robert Cullen (r) lobbies staff in Sacramento

Fourteen UTA Members spent March 20^th, vigorously lobbied members and staff of the California Senate Banking & Financial Institutions Committee; the Senate Judiciary Committee; and the Assembly Banking & Finance Committee – the committees with jurisdiction over legislation pertinent to UTA members.

Members lobbied in support of SB 479, introduced by Senator Morrell (R-23^rd District) which addresses two objectives. First, as increasing numbers of UTA members receive notices threatening fines for failure to maintain foreclosed properties, the bill clarifies that trustees are not “legal owners” for purposes of registration and maintenance obligations.  Second, the bill will correct an unintentional error with last year’s SB 983, which failed to properly increase the base fee upon the trustee’s sale, in the same manner the fee was increased for the notice of default and notice of sale stage.

Members also expressed concerns with SB 2, introduced by Senator Toni G. Atkins (D-39^th District).  Even while builders argue that the state cannot fix the housing crisis by making housing more expensive with prevailing wage requirements, the bill would impose a $75 surcharge on recording real estate documents to fund affordable housing.  UTA has a particularly compelling point of concern with the proposal: by imposing the surcharge on recording notices of default and sale, the bill would actually make it more difficult for homeowners to cure, in order for others to obtain housing.