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 Bill Text - SB-1155 Nonpayment of rent: federal employees: government shutdown.

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 |Add To My Favorites |Track Bill | Version: 04/13/26 - Amended Senate
 04/07/26 - Amended Senate
 02/18/26 - Introduced

 SB-1155 Nonpayment of rent: federal employees: government shutdown.(2025-2026)

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 Date Published: 04/13/2026 02:00 PM

SB1155:v97#DOCUMENTBill Start

 Amended
 IN 
 Senate
 April 13, 2026

 Amended
 IN 
 Senate
 April 07, 2026

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

 Senate Bill

No. 1155

Introduced by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas
(Coauthor: Senator Wahab)

February 18, 2026

 An act to add Section 1946.4 to the Civil Code, relating to tenancy. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1155, as amended, Smallwood-Cuevas.
 Nonpayment of rent: federal employees: government shutdown.

Existing law regulates the terms and conditions of residential tenancies. Existing law provides that a tenant is guilty of unlawful detainer if the tenant continues to possess the property without permission of the landlord after the tenant defaults on rent, among other reasons.

This bill would prohibit a landlord from evicting for nonpayment of rent or nonrent fees, as defined, or charging or collecting late fees to, a tenant who is employed by the federal government or a federal contractor and whose income is materially affected by a government shutdown for the duration of, and 30 days following, a government shutdown. The bill would additionally require a court to stay any pending eviction action against the tenant during that time, as provided. The bill would require the tenant to provide specified documentation to a landlord or court, as
 applicable. The bill would require the deferred rent to be due and payable within 30 days of the date the tenant receives their first full paycheck containing retroactive backpay, as provided.

This bill would impose civil penalties not to exceed $2,000 for any person who knowingly violates its provisions and would permit the tenant to raise a violation of its provisions as an affirmative defense in any action for unlawful detainer. The bill would specify that this affirmative defense does not apply to any unlawful detainer action other than an action based on the nonpayment of rent or nonrent fees. The bill would require the Judicial Council to adopt or modify forms as needed to implement these provisions. The bill would make related findings and declarations.

Digest Key

 Vote:
 MAJORITY 
 Appropriation:
 NO 
 Fiscal Committee:
 YES 
 Local Program:
 NO 

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) California is home to approximately 150,000 federal civilian employees and tens of thousands of federal contractors who provide essential services to the state.

(b) During a federal government shutdown, these employees are either furloughed or required to work without pay, creating immediate and severe financial hardship.

(c) The loss of a predictable paycheck through no fault of the employee puts families at risk of eviction, homelessness, and permanent credit
 damage.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide temporary, emergency protections to ensure that those who serve the public are not displaced from their homes due to federal legislative stalemates.

SEC. 2.

 Section 1946.4 is added to the Civil Code, to read:

1946.4.

 (a) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Covered period” means the period beginning on the first day of a government shutdown and ending 30 days after the date on which the shutdown ends and backpay is authorized.

(2) “Covered tenant” means any individual employed by a federal agency, or an individual employed by a federal contractor, who is a tenant and whose primary residence is located in California and whose income is materially impacted by a government shutdown.

(3) “Government shutdown” means any
 lapse in federal appropriations that results in a furlough or the requirement for
 federal employees to work without pay.

(4) “Landlord” means an owner of residential rental property or the owner’s agent.

(5) “Material impact” means a reduction in household income or a delay in pay resulting from a government shutdown that renders the tenant unable to pay the full amount of rent due.

(6) “Nonrent fees” means mandatory or optional charges im