California lawmakers try again to tamp down rising rents

California lawmakers are trying again to tamp down on rising housing costs with bills to expand rent control and stop rental price gouging.

The bills introduced Thursday come after voters soundly rejected a rent control ballot measure last November.

A handful of Assembly Democrats say the bills are needed because California is in a housing crisis. More than half of California renters spend at least a third of their income on rent.

Assemblyman Richard Bloom wants to overhaul a 1995 law that restricts rent control on houses or apartments built after that year. Another bill would create a registry of rental properties so the state can gather data on rising costs.

Groups representing apartment owners and real estate agents did not immediately respond to requests for comment.