CP&DR News Briefs April 28, 2026: Transfer Tax Ballot Measure; Mojave Natnl. Preserve; Dam Removal; and More

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Voter Initiative to Curb Transfer Taxes Qualifies for November Ballot

California’s secretary of state has certified a statewide ballot proposition for November that would sharply reduce local real estate transfer taxes and tighten rules on voter-approved tax increases. The debate is especially focused on Los Angeles’ Measure ULA “mansion tax,” which has raised more than $1 billion since 2023 for affordable housing programs. The proposition would cut transfer tax rates dramatically and, if passed, would be poised to override Measure ULA first. The measure, backed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, would cap municipal transfer taxes at one-twentieth of 1% of a property sale and require some local tax measures to pass with a two-thirds majority instead of a simple majority. Measure ULA, for example, passed with 58%. (See related CP&DR coverage.)

Lawsuit Filed to Avert Mining in Mojave National Preserve

The National Parks Conservation Association filed a lawsuit against the National Park Service and the Interior Department for allowing mining in the Mojave National Preserve. The dispute centers on the Colosseum Mine, a former gold and silver mine that closed in the 1990s, now owned by Dateline Resources Ltd., which wants to resume operations and explore rare earth minerals. The suit claims that the mine threatens sensitive habitat in the Clark Mountains, including bighorn sheep and the second-highest density of rare plants in all California’s mountain ranges. In 2022, the Park Service had accused the company of unauthorized work that damaged land and destroyed plants, but later dropped those demands and allowed operations to continue under approvals by the Bureau of Land Management from 1985. The lawsuit claims that the Park Service acted illegally, failing to secure a plan of operations or the necessary permits and approvals for operation.

Surprise Deal Could Halt Removal of Two Dams in Mendocino County

A deal proposed by federal officials could scuttle the long-planned decommissioning and removal of two dams on the Eel River in Mendocino County. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins suggested that a Southern California water district may be interested in purchasing and continuing operation of the Scott and Cape Horn dams, running counter to Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s plan to remove the dams as part of the $350 million decommissioning of the century-old hydroelectric project. Environmental groups, tribes, and Gov. Gavin Newsom supported dam removal to restore salmon habitat and improve river health, while some Russian River basin communities oppose it due to concerns about losing imported water supplies. PG&E stated it has not received an offer and believes it is too late to transfer ownership as decommissioning is already underway.

Federal Report Cites Shortage of 10 Million Homes

Analysis in the White House Economic Report of the President estimates that the United States has a housing shortage of about 10 million homes, to make up for lost homes in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, assuming “homebuilding and the growth of the single-family housing stock had continued at their historical pace instead of falling dramatically”. The report says this shortage has worsened affordability, with home prices rising 82% since 2000 while incomes increased only 12%, making ownership much harder for younger and first-time buyers. According to the report, reducing regulations via zoning fees, code requirements, and approval delays could help generate as many as 13.2 million additional homes. the Libertarian Cato Institute criticizes the report for disregarding tariffs' effects on construction costs, demonizing institutional investors, and mischaracterizing immigrants' demand for housing.

CP&DR Coverage: Fulton on The Coming Battle Over Impact Fees

There’s no question that an impact fee reckoning is coming in California – most likely from the courts and the legislature. A recent example in Menlo Park highlights the high fees associated with split lots under SB 9, reaching $127,000 in one case. Even though California courts have upheld fee systems under the Supreme Court Sheetz ruling so far, there will come a time when some court says the Nollan/Dolan test of 'reasonable relationship' to collect impact fees hasn’t been met, or the fees are being used incorrectly. But it’s not clear where that reckoning will leave California’s local governments, whether that may be falling back on higher property taxes or (very easily) creating new special assessment districts.

Quick Hits & Updates

The Clovis Planning Commission unanimously approved the Mixed Income Zoning Ordinance (MIZO) in a 4–0 vote, requiring developers of housing projects with 11 or more units to reserve at least 5% for lower-income residents. The policy is part of a set of reforms tied to the city’s settlement of the 2024 Martinez v. City of Clovis lawsuit, in which a court found the city failed to meet affordable housing obligations under state law.

A recently certified November ballot measure in San Francisco called the Affordable Housing Guarantee Act would require that revenue from Proposition I’s real estate transfer tax be dedicated entirely to affordable housing production, preservation, and tenant stabilization. Prop. I, passed in 2020, raised taxes on property sales above $10 million and has generated more than $400 million, with projections of about $100 million annually in coming years. The proposal for reinstatement comes with new provisions to encourage housing construction by lowering transfer taxes.

Construction of a new U.S. border wall near Tecate has triggered backlash from Kumeyaay communities in both Mexico and the United States over damage to Kuchamaa Mountain, a site considered sacred and historically used for ceremonies and healing. Residents and tribal leaders say heavy machinery and controlled blasting on the U.S. side are harming a culturally and spiritually significant landscape.

The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe in the San Francisco Bay Area has hired lobbyist Roger Stone, a longtime ally of Pres. Donald Trump, through his firm Drake Ventures. Last year petitioned the White House to take over management of the Presidio. Disclosure records show the tribe paid Stone’s firm at least $50,000 across late 2025 and early 2026, though the specific lobbying activities were not detailed. The filing shows no information on what the lobbying efforts consist of, but comes shortly after President Trump fired the Presidio Board of Trustees.

SpaceX and the Coastal Commission have reached a settlement in a lawsuit over the commission’s attempt to regulate rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, followed the commission’s denial of a plan to significantly increase SpaceX launches due to environmental and community concerns.

After Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer reportedly pressured trustees to drop opposition to the Southeast Development Area (SEDA), the board of Fresno Unified School District is set to revisit the issue in May. Trustees previously tabled the resolution in a 4-3 vote after Dyer warned that opposition would damage city-district relations The district’s analysis found the buildout of the new area could trigger the closure of 11 schools and drain $200 million a year in funding. (See related CP&DR coverage.)

The Department of Housing and Community Development has updated its guidelines to help communities understand and use the state’s Affordable Housing Preservation Laws. These laws are designed to protect existing affordable housing, especially as more than 47,000 subsidized rental units face expiring affordability restrictions over the next decade. The updated materials include a revised statewide guide and six new fact sheets tailored for tenants, tenant associations, public agencies, property owners, developers, and potential preservation buyers.

Single women constitute a higher share of homeowners than men across the country, despite earning less than men and are more financially stretched, a survey by the National Association of Realtors found. About 51% of single women own homes compared to less than 50% of single men, and although single women earn less than men and are more financially stretched, they are less likely to have a mortgage. California saw one the fastest jumps in homeownership among single women in some of the most expensive housing markets nationwide like San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

A new report proposes major reforms to stabilize the state’s struggling home insurance market including options ranging from stronger regulation to creating a state-run wildfire insurance program. Major insurers like State Farm and Allstate have pulled back from the California market, especially in fire-prone regions. The report recommends giving the state more power to enforce coverage commitments and potentially revoke rate hike approvals if insurers fail to meet targets.