Flores

BACKGROUND

In August 2019, Caltrans offered to sell appellants the homes that they rent from Caltrans at Caltrans’s original purchase price adjusted for inflation. That same month, appellants filed a petition for writ of mandamus and/or injunctive relief compelling Caltrans to instead sell the homes to appellants at the original acquisition price—without adjusting for inflation—and to “re-draft all proposed sales documents.” After a court trial, the trial court found for Caltrans. It examined the interplay between the then-current version of section 54237.9 and other applicable laws and denied the requested writ and injunction. Section 54237.9 previously required that the homes be sold at the “original acquisition price,” and was silent as to adjustment for inflation. (Former Gov. Code, § 54237.9.) Effective July 23, 2021, while this appeal was pending, the California Legislature revised section 54237.9 to add: “The original acquisition price shall not be adjusted for inflation . . . .” (§ 54237.9.) On appeal, the parties disagree as to whether Caltrans is required to sell the homes at the “original acquisition price,” or at the “original acquisition price” adjusted for…