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California condo defect reform bill fails as session ends
AB 1903 cleared the Senate after late amendments, but opposition said the changes would shift more defect-related risk and cost to homeowners.
California’s AB 1903, aimed at revising condominium construction defect liability under the state’s Right to Repair Act, stalled after the Legislature adjourned without a final vote in the General Assembly, HousingWire reported.
The bill passed the state Senate late Sunday night following multiple rounds of amendments that sent it back and forth between chambers. AB 1903 had cleared the Assembly in May with no no votes before the Senate made significant changes in the final stretch of the session.
Opposition groups argued the revised approach would make it harder and more expensive for homeowners to investigate defects and pursue claims before damage worsened, shifting risk from builders to homeowners. Consumer attorneys, HOA groups, and other advocates opposed the bill’s changes.
A Senate committee analysis also challenged one of the bill’s main assumptions, finding litigation is not the primary driver behind weak condo development. The analysis pointed instead to factors including rising labor and material costs, and permitting requirements.