By Mayumi Bowers
On May 6, 2025, I had the privilege of joining 21 dedicated volunteers from the California Mortgage Association (CMA) and the United Trustees Association (UTA) for our annual Legislative Day in Sacramento. Our group included seven UTA members and fourteen CMA members, each of whom stepped up to advocate for our industry’s interests and ensure that our voices were heard directly by our elected representatives.
Preparation and Briefing
The day began with a Legislative Briefing led by our legislative advocate, Mike Belote, at the offices of California Advocates, Inc. Mike provided us with an overview of the key bills we would be discussing and offered guidance on how to effectively communicate our concerns to legislators. The briefing was followed by a kickoff lunch, which served as an excellent opportunity for our volunteers to connect and prepare for the meetings ahead.
Meetings with Legislators
From 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., we had 19 scheduled meetings with legislators or their senior staff members, representing both the Senate and Assembly Banking and Judiciary Committees. Eight of these meetings were held directly with Assembly Members or Senators. Our group was divided into four teams of no more than five members each, ensuring that every legislator we met with had the opportunity to hear from a diverse range of perspectives within our industry.
Key Legislative Priorities
Our primary focus during these meetings was on two critical bills:
- AB 1158 (Chen) – Post-Foreclosure Sale Bids: We emphasized our strong support for AB 1158, which seeks to correct the unintended consequences of SB 1079 (Skinner, 2020). SB 1079 has suppressed competitive bidding at trustee sales, depriving property owners of their equity and creating an environment susceptible to fraud. We urged legislators to vote “Yes” on AB 1158 to restore fairness and transparency to the foreclosure process.
- SB 681 (Wahab) – Subordinate Mortgages: We expressed our strong opposition to Section 5 of SB 681, which would create significant challenges for enforcing subordinate mortgages in California. This provision, if passed, would undermine the security of loans and discourage lenders from providing subordinate financing. We respectfully requested a “No” vote on this bill or significant amendments to limit its negative impact.
Notable Meetings
Our group personally met with Assembly Member Diane Dixon, and from what we understand, there was a highly productive meeting with Senator Grayson as well. We are grateful to all of the legislators who took the time to hear our perspectives and engage in meaningful discussions.
The Importance of Legislative Day
This year’s Legislative Day demonstrated the power of collective advocacy. With 21 volunteers and 19 confirmed meetings, we made our voices heard on behalf of our industry. It was an incredible experience to witness our members step up to advocate for the interests of CMA and UTA, and I strongly encourage anyone who is passionate about our industry to join us next year.
Special Thanks
A special thank you to all the attendees who took the time to participate, including:
- Bradley Laddusaw, Gregory Bronshvag, Elizabeth Knight, Pamela Sosa, Lori Randich, Mayumi Bowers, Michelle Rodriguez, Mark Forbes, Andrew Forbes, Corey Siegel, Craig Fox, Brett Everett, Odell Murray, Brock Vandenburg.
Together, we made an impact.
Mayumi Bowers is Chief Operating Officer of Mortgage Vintage, Inc. She can be reached at mayumi@mortgagevintage.com.
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