Across California, small businesses and nonprofits are being forced out of business and displaced from their communities at alarming rates. Commercial tenants have far fewer protections than residential tenants, leaving them vulnerable to rent increases, unclear and unfair lease terms, exorbitant added fees, and complex commercial lease agreements. It’s time for California to provide more protections and ensure that community-serving small businesses and nonprofits have a fighting chance to stay in business in their neighborhoods!

SB1103 will increase key protections that help commercial tenants remain in place, including reduced security deposit fees, increased notice periods, and in-language leases.

SB 1103, The Commercial Tenant Protection Act of 2024, is authored by Senator Caroline Menjivar (D - San Fernando Valley) and co-sponsored by Inclusive Action for the City, Public Counsel, Bet Tzedek Legal Services, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, Small Business Majority, and the California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO).