The Overview
If you've ever wondered how often landlords file to evict tenants in your neighborhood, a new California law will eventually make that information public. California's Judicial Council: eviction data reporting law, Senate Bill 1160 requires county courts to report eviction filing data to the state, and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed it Sept. 27.
California landlords filed nearly 136,000 eviction cases in fiscal year 2024, about 22 per 1,000 renter households, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. But only 86 percent of counties reported court outcomes, according to Strategic Actions for a Just Economy. The data-collection requirements take effect on a rolling schedule beginning in 2033.
What the Law Does
The Judicial Council, which sets rules for California's court system, must assess by July 1, 2032, which county courts can submit eviction data automatically. Counties deemed ready must begin submitting quarterly data on eviction proceedings by ZIP code starting Jan. 1, 2033; all counties must follow by Jan. 1, 2034. The Judicial Council must then publish the data annually as a public spreadsheet on its website. The law takes effect only if the Legislature appropriates money to fund it.
Legislative Status
Sen. María Elena Durazo (D-CA-26) sponsored the bill. The full Senate passed it 39 to 0 on May 27. The Assembly Judiciary Committee voted 9 to 2 on June 23 to pass it and send it back to the Appropriations Committee. The Assembly passed it 59 to 19 on Aug. 31, and the Senate concurred in Assembly amendments 34 to 0 the same day.
Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE), an advocacy group that backed the bill, celebrated the signing and called it the Eviction Court Data Transparency Act. The Apartment Association of Orange County urged members to oppose the bill, citing potential liability and privacy concerns.
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