Senate hears bill to allow local renter registries; sponsor withdraws penalty amendment and moves measure to general subcommittee

The committee took up Senate Bill 1008, which would permit municipalities to require a registry of residential property owners and contact information for units above a defined threshold. Sponsor Senator Oliver said the provision mirrors a practice already in place in Davidson County and aims to help local code enforcement locate absentee owners to address housing code violations.

During the hearing the sponsor removed an amendment that would have imposed a civil penalty of up to $500 for noncompliance. After several members questioned the scope and legal basis for a registry and raised concerns about owner burden and overlaps with publicly available records, the sponsor asked the committee to send the bill to the general subcommittee for additional refinement.

Senators asked whether Davidson County relies on a local ordinance and whether existing tax‑record and deed searches already provide owner information. Sponsor Oliver described the bill as permissive — allowing but not requiring local governments to establish registries — and said he would work with members and stakeholders on concerns about paperwork and enforcement.

Why it matters: the bill would expand local authority to collect owner contact information for rental properties, which sponsors say would support code enforcement and public‑safety responses but opponents warned could add paperwork or duplicate existing public records.

Ending: Sponsor withdrew the penalty amendment and the committee sent SB 1008 to general subcommittee for further work.