California lawmakers are considering a bill that would impose universal rent control whenever officials determine that an overseas conflict is causing housing prices to rise. The legislation, introduced by state Senator Josh Becker (D–Menlo Park), would add war to the list of emergencies triggering the state's price-gouging law, which caps price increases at 10 percent. Before the cap is imposed, the state's attorney general must establish a connection between the war and rising prices. The bill applies whether or not war has been formally declared, covering any active military operations against foreign states.

In a related development, Charles Marohn, president of the advocacy group Strong Towns, has won a First Amendment battle against Minnesota licensing officials. After a yearslong legal dispute, Marohn secured the right to call himself a "professional engineer" despite his license having lapsed. The conflict began in 2020 when a complaint was filed against him for using the title in speeches and author bios. In 2022, Minnesota's Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design fined and censured him. Marohn commented on the ruling, stating, "The engineering profession needs reform. It needs dialogue. The precedent my discipline had created was just really chilling in the profession."

Meanwhile, opponents of California's Proposition 45, which seeks to reduce the scope of the California Environmental Quality Act, argue that it could lead to unchecked data center development.

"California should not become collateral damage in an international conflict," the state has stated in response to the proposed rent control measures.

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