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Committee tables substitute on residential firearm‑violence lease remedies after stakeholder concerns
Summary
A committee substitute for SB 413, which would let tenants end leases after being physically injured by firearms in or near their residence using records or sworn affidavits from victim-service providers, drew objections from apartment-industry counsel and was tabled for further work.
The committee considered a substitute to SB 413 (LC 620448s) that narrows eligibility to residents who were physically injured by firearms in or near their residence and authorizes certain victim-service providers, health-care providers, or qualified third parties to attest that residential firearm violence occurred. The sponsor said the substitute tightens the original draft to focus on actual physical injury and limit who may attest.
Hayden Stanley (Georgia Apartment Association) and counsel raised concerns that the substitute's definition of "victim-service provider" and the use of qualified third-party affidavits could be abused, that the language did not clearly exclude those engaged in criminal activity, and that the statute lacks an expedited court process to terminate leases without the typical eviction timetable. The sponsor indicated willingness to accept an amendment clarifying "physical injury" and noted similar provisions exist in other states.
After discussion a motion to table the substitute carried with committee members voting to hold the bill for further work.
