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Senate committee approves bill creating baseline residential quality standards, but tenant advocates say it doesn't go far enough
Summary
Senate Bill 594, which sets minimum residential habitability standards and a tenant notification/repair process, passed the committee 5–4. Supporters call it a first step; tenant advocates and some senators said it lacks anti‑retaliation protections, remedies other than moving out, and guaranteed smoke/CO detector requirements.
The Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee on Thursday approved Senate Bill 594 by a 5–4 roll‑call vote after extended testimony from tenant groups, landlords and city advocates. The bill creates a statutory list of baseline residential quality standards — including hot and cold running water, electricity, potable water, sanitary sewer, functioning roof and building envelope, and functioning heating/cooling where such systems serve the premises at the time of lease — and establishes a process for tenants to…
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