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Committee advances tenant-protection measure with technical fix referencing Landlord Tenant Act
Summary
House Bill 734 was reported as amended 15-11 after a technical amendment added cross-references to the Landlord Tenant Act; sponsors said the bill targets absentee landlords whose properties fall into severe disrepair.
The Housing & Community Development Committee reported House Bill 734 as amended by a 15-11 vote after the panel adopted a technical amendment to correct statutory references.
Representative Madsen, prime sponsor, said the bill targets absentee landlords and provides tools for tenants and municipalities dealing with properties that should be condemned. Madsen said the bill passed the committee unanimously and with bipartisan floor support in the prior session and noted that the Catholic Conference recently joined supporters of the measure.
Committee staff described amendment 0000091 as a technical change that "adds references to two sections in the Landlord Tenant Act to correct a statutory conflict." The amendment was adopted 26-0 on a motion by Representative Powell, seconded by Representative Siegel. During final debate, members of the Republican caucus said they would not wholly support the bill as written and raised concerns about shifting responsibilities to landlords and the adequacy of existing legal remedies. The committee then reported the bill as amended 15-11.
The committee record did not include the full bill text in debate; the staff summary and sponsor remarks indicate the measure targets abusive absentee-landlord practices and seeks to provide remedies for tenants living in dangerously deteriorated rental properties.
