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House Judiciary Committee finds H.772 amendment favorable, speeds eviction timelines
Summary
The House Judiciary Committee on March 20 gave a favorable straw poll to draft 7.1 of H.772, endorsing amendments that restore judicial discretion on partial rent payments, set a 90‑day deadline for final eviction hearings after complaint filing, remove a contested pre-writ new‑trial provision, and strike a sealing/confidentiality section.
The House Judiciary Committee on March 20 conducted a straw poll finding draft 7.1 of H.772 favorable, approving several procedural changes to how eviction and ejectment cases are handled.
Cameron, a committee staff member, summarized the amendments and said the bill now leaves partial-payment decisions to judicial discretion rather than listing specific circumstances that would allow partial payment. "The court will just make that determination as they do now," Cameron said, explaining the change on page three that removes the previous two-condition approach and preserves a subdivision allowing reductions when the parties reach agreement.
The amendment also sets a deadline for final hearings in non-threatening ejectment actions under section 4467A/B: courts "shall set the final hearing date not later than 90 days after the filing of the complaint," staff explained. Committee members clarified the timing is measured from the date of filing in court, and that procedural safeguards—such as jury trials, certificate-of-service timing, or a showing of good cause—could extend the schedule in specific cases.
A provision that had explicitly allowed a defendant to seek a new trial before execution of a writ of possession was removed. Staff said the Rules of Civil Procedure (Rule 59 and Rule 60) already permit motions for a new trial or relief and that the inserted language created confusion, so it was struck to avoid limiting defendants’ procedural rights.
Members also removed a section from the House General report addressing confidentiality and sealing of records; staff and members said that topic needs further work. "There's desire for further work on that concept," Cameron said while describing the change.
Several members raised access-to-justice concerns for pro se tenants navigating these procedures. One committee member called it "an absolute systemic access to justice problem" and urged more resources for legal aid; members noted that while courts often assist pro se litigants, limited legal help remains a barrier for many facing eviction.
The chair called for a motion to find draft 7.1 of H.772 favorable as an amendment to be reported to the floor. The committee moved and seconded the straw poll; by voice/hand the committee found the amendment favorable, though some members said they retained reservations about other parts of the underlying bill. The finding was described repeatedly as a procedural step to report the amendment to the floor rather than an approval of the entire bill.
The committee adjourned until 1:00 p.m.
