California Realtors Force Halt to Property Tax Hike Proposal
Thousands of real estate professionals across California successfully pressured the State Legislature to kill AB 736, a bill that would have encouraged local governments to hike property transfer taxes. The rapid grassroots campaign, involving over 12,000 phone calls in 24 hours, effectively blocked a measure critics argued would worsen the housing affordability crisis.
C.A.R. President Tamara Suminski framed the outcome as a necessary defense of families already priced out of the market. By preventing the expansion of local transfer taxes, the association aimed to stop the financial burden of home transactions from rising further. The legislative pushback highlights the group's influence in Sacramento, where members mobilized to reject policies they believe threaten the viability of the state's housing market.
Beyond stopping AB 736, the association secured a tactical agreement regarding the November 2026 ballot. This deal ensures a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds voter majority for special tax increases will move forward, while simultaneously removing ACA 13 from the ballot. The organization had been prepared to deploy significant resources to defeat ACA 13, viewing it as a direct challenge to long-standing taxpayer protections similar to Proposition 13. Suminski noted that these combined results serve to stabilize costs and safeguard existing taxpayer protections, reinforcing the association’s role in shaping California housing policy.
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