Bill > AB851

This bill prohibits individuals from making unsolicited offers to purchase residential real property in specific ZIP Codes within Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, which were affected by wildfires in January 2025. An "unsolicited offer" is defined as any offer made through text, email, phone, mail, or other communication, unless the property is publicly listed for sale or the offer was made before the bill's enactment. Before transferring property title, buyers and sellers must execute a written attestation confirming the offer was not unsolicited, which creates a legal presumption that the offer was solicited by the seller. The bill imposes significant penalties for violations, including a potential civil penalty of up to $25,000 per violation, potential misdemeanor criminal charges with fines up to $1,000 or six months imprisonment, and the ability for sellers to cancel purchase agreements within four months of contract execution. Real estate professionals who make such offers can face licensing violations, and the Attorney General or local prosecutors can bring civil actions to enforce the law. The provisions are temporary, becoming operative 30 days after the bill's effective date and automatically repealing on January 1, 2027, with the intent of protecting wildfire-affected property owners from potentially exploitative purchasing practices during their recovery period.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB851