Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Victim Protections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate adopts amendment letting domestic-violence victims require landlords to rekey locks; HB 184 advances
Summary
The Senate approved an amendment to HB 184 that lets renters who are victims of specified crimes require a landlord to rekey or install a new lock and receive a key, with the barred occupant allowed to petition the court within 30 days. The bill advanced to third reading on unanimous recorded support.
Senator Thomas, sponsor of first substitute House Bill 184, described an amendment that would let a renter who is a victim of designated crimes — largely domestic violence and stalking tied to a protective order — require a landlord to change or rekey a lock at the renter’s request and expense.
“The bill basically does is that enacts provisions that allow a renter who is a victim ... to install a new lock at the renter's expense,” Senator Thomas said on the floor, explaining the change. He told senators the House amendment allowed rekeying so owners could keep a key while giving the victim one key.
The amendment adopted on the floor adds a 30‑day petition process to preserve due process: a barred occupant may petition the court within 30 days to seek restoration of access. If the petitioner does not prevail, the law relieves the landlord of further liability under the rental agreement for that occupant’s abandonment or removal.
Senators asked and the sponsor confirmed that the bill requires a victim to present a protective order signed by a judge or a police report documenting the crime before the landlord is “on notice” and required to rekey. Senator Thomas said compliance with those elements protects the landlord from liability: “Once the landlord's on notice ... it is incumbent upon the owner to rekey the lock and give 1 key to that victim. They keep the other key.”
After limited floor discussion and a roll-call tally, the Senate recorded 25 aye votes, 0 nay votes, with 4 absent; the presiding officer announced HB 184 would move to the third‑reading calendar.
The next step is third reading and final passage on the floor; sponsors said the amendment is intended to balance immediate safety for victims with due‑process protections for other occupants.
