Brief

Councilmember Heather Hutt introduced a motion to improve public participation accessibility in Los Angeles's Rent Escrow Account Program by expanding virtual participation options. The motion was referred to the Housing and Homelessness Committee in August 2025, approved by that committee in September 2026, and then adopted by the full Council on September 16, 2026, with a 13-0 vote and two abstentions. The item is now closed as final Council action.

Full summary

Councilmember Heather Hutt, seconded by Hugo Soto-Martinez, introduced this motion in August 2025 in response to a pandemic-era shift in how the Los Angeles Housing Department conducts REAP and other administrative hearings. Since COVID-19, those hearings moved to phone and other remote formats that, according to the motion, failed to fully account for the ability of tenants and property owners to meaningfully participate. The motion argues that returning to in-person hearings, while layering in robust virtual and language access options, is the appropriate correction. The motion makes two substantive directives. First, it asks the City Attorney to draft an ordinance amending Municipal Code Section 162.06 and to recommend amendments to Rent Adjustment Commission Regulations 1200.00, so that all LAHD administrative hearings, including REAP and General Manager hearings, are held in person on a permanent basis. The proposed ordinance would also require LAHD to post all hearing notices in a single, easily accessible location on its website, with notices in English and Spanish and additional languages depending on the neighborhood. It would further require Spanish interpretation at every hearing and interpretation in any available language if a participant requests it at least 72 hours in advance, with the option for the public to watch and participate remotely. Second, the motion instructs LAHD, with City Attorney assistance, to report back with recommendations on how to accept and consider new evidence and testimony introduced at administrative hearings. After sitting in committee for roughly a year, the Housing Committee took up the item on September 8, 2026, and approved both recommendations with votes from Councilmembers Padilla and Jurado, with Park absent. The NoHo Neighborhood Council had submitted a community impact statement in support. The full Council then adopted the motion 13-0 on September 16, 2026, with two abstentions. Council action was finalized September 18, 2026, closing the file. The next step will be the City Attorney and LAHD returning with the requested draft ordinance and evidence-acceptance recommendations.

Activity (7)

• 2026-09-18 Council action final.
• 2026-09-11 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on September 16, 2026.
• 2026-09-08 Housing Committee approved item(s) .
• 2026-08-31 Housing Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 8, 2026.
• 2026-08-28 City Clerk rereferred item to Housing Committee, pursuant to Council File No. 26-2000.
• 2026-02-13 Community Impact Statement submitted by NoHo Neighborhood Council.
• 2025-08-12 Motion referred to Housing and Homelessness Committee.

Documents (5)

• 2026-09-18 Council Action · council_action
• 2026-09-08 Report from Housing Committee · report
• 2026-09-05 Communication(s) from Public · communication
• 2026-02-13 Community Impact Statement submitted by NoHo Neighborhood Council · cis
• 2025-08-12 Motion · motion

Council votes (1)

• 2026-09-16 Adopted — 13-0-2 · Regular