Legislative Week!
California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) has three main meetings for their Directors each year – Winter, Spring & Fall.
The meetings are organized around advocacy for C.A.R. Members, homeowners, local + state + federal housing policies, best business practices, as well as all of the sausage-making that goes into running the trade organization that C.A.R. is (budget meetings, committee meetings about committee meetings, etc).
In my brief experience as a C.A.R. Director, the three meetings – Winter, Spring and Fall – all share the same policy-related rhythms where we watch as the endless blizzard of bills that are generated in the Great State of California are introduced, amended, fail, pass, or turn into zombie bills and then we organize strategy around how to deal with those. That said, there are some differences between the tempo and tenor of the meetings, given their time of year, but no difference so pronounced as the Spring meeting which is known as “Legislative Week”.
Legislative Week (or “Leg Week” which sounds like “ledge”) is held in Sacramento each year and it is a time where C.A.R. Directors and a host of our agents from Boards & Associations across the state come together to meet with their local Representatives – Assemblymen, Assemblywomen & Senators – to advocate for state and local issues that impact homeowners, housing, and the business of real estate.
The Board I belong to – the Laguna Board of REALTORS® (LBOR) – hand-picks two of our Members each year, sponsors their trip and sends them (along with our travelling Directors & our Association Executive) to Sacramento so they can get a feel for how advocacy works. Our entourage for 2025 included myself (2025 Board President), Geoff Dunlevie, (President Elect), Laura Baptisa (Past President & 2026 Region 32 Chair), Bobbie Jordan (LBOR Executive VP) and our two scholars, Barbara Balossi & Leita Covington.
This year, we were tremendously grateful for the power-packed & passionate group of legislators that came to meet us to talk about our local & our statewide real estate issues – Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (Assembly District 73), Assemblywoman Laurie Davies (AD74), Assemblyman Tri Ta (AD70), CA State Senator Tony Strickland, Assemblywoman Diane Dixon (AD72) and Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez (AD71).
We advocated for policy to better protect landlords from squatters; we asked the legislators to consider supporting policy to cut development costs that increase the cost of housing; and to support legislation to return control of BESS project approvals to local authorities (an issue being championed by Assy. Laurie Davies).
This being my last foreseeable Legislative Week for years to come, I made sure I got photos with all of them!
See, kids? Dad really does work 😉
A huge thank you to my Board for sending me to advocate for our business, our clients, housing and homeownership – I am grateful to be able to do the work!
Fun Stuff
Here are some photos from the week, including a comic-style drawing I did along the week near the end:
The Three Presidents. From the left, OCR’s President, Ed Molina, NBAOR’s President, Natalie Shaw, and yours truly – LBOR’s 2025 President, Jesse Brossa
Pledge of allegiance at the C.A.R. Member meeting on Legislative Day
Member meeting on Legislative Day draws a huge crowd
JB marauding with the Newport gang; from the left, Jesse Brossa (LBOR 2025 President); Sue Podany (NBAOR Past President); Reuben Gulledge (NBAOR Vice President); Natalie Shaw (2025 NBAOR President); John Yasko (2025 NBAOR President Elect)
Drawing of Transaction & Regulatory committee; at the end, I gave the drawing to the Chair. It was a contentious meeting and he said “Wow! You got that! Can’t believe I have a souvenir from this meeting; thank you!”
The LBOR group with Assemblywoman Diane Dixon on Legislative Day in Sacramento
The LBOR group with Senator Tony Strickland on Legislative Day in Sacramento
Jesse Brossa, Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez – I wish I remembered to tell her how much I appreciate her fight for girls sports – she is an absolute powerhouse! Stoked to be in her district.
Geoff Dunlevie, Assemblywoman Laurie Davies, Jesse Brossa + aloha shaka
Shaka with the boss! Senator Tony Strickland and his staff gave us a tour of the California State Senate Chamber; was an honor.
Senator Tony Strickland and his staff gave us a tour of the California State Senate Chamber; was an honor.
See my prior appeal Minerva and her grizz.
Oh, Minerva, we need you now! Your grizzly bear wouldn’t hurt, either. GrizzIt Do’Urden is your name now, bear. Come forth and help us war on stupid ideas, of which there are plenty.
A Region 32 Caucus meeting; I deliver the reports for the Legislative Commitee; #lecternSelfie
The man, the myth, The Reuben, aka The Hand at the mic in opposition to some railroadery that we opposed.
Um, we bet on when the meetings will end, and I do the art (of course, I do)… and – I WON this go-round! Yewwwww! Let’s go! $80, baby.
Instead of a shotgun approach to drawings, I thought early on in the week I’d cut up a throwaway piece of chipboard into little comic squares and draw scenes throughout the week; barely finished by the last day and actually ran into the guy I drew in one of the bottom panels at the airport as we were flying out.
Instead of a shotgun approach to drawings, I thought early on in the week I’d cut up a throwaway piece of chipboard into little comic squares and draw scenes throughout the week; barely finished by the last day and actually ran into the guy I drew in one of the bottom panels at the airport as we were flying out.
From the left, Ed Molina (2025 President, OCR); Jesse Brossa (2025 President, LBOR); Natalie Shaw (2025 NBAOR President); Geoff Dunlevie (2025 LBOR President-Elect); Danielle Corliss (2025 OCR President-Elect); John Yasko (2025 NBAOR President-Elect)
OCR’s Govt’ Affairs Director, Collin Powers, delivering reporting on the SCAQMD’s proposed rules changes
Sweet, sweet Region 32 goodness – Laguna Board of REALTORS + Orange County REALTORS + Newport Beach Association of REALTORS
That’s it! Thanks for reading!
