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Committee approves amendment limiting public livestreams of private eviction set‑outs
Summary
Rep. Parkinson’s amended bill would bar private process servers from broadcasting eviction set‑outs to the general public, restricting live streams to property owners, managers, attorneys or the hiring party and creating a private cause of action with up to $25,000 in damages; the committee sent the amended bill to full judiciary unanimously.
Representative Parkinson presented House Bill 20‑41 and amendment 013429 after recounting multiple viral livestreams of evictions in Memphis that captured people in distress. Parkinson said the bill does not ban recording or livestreaming generally but narrows who private process servers may broadcast to during eviction set‑outs.
"It does not stop anyone from live streaming," Parkinson said. "But in the case of live streaming, they are going to live stream to the owners of the property, management companies of property owners, attorneys, or whoever hired them. But [not] to the general public during this process." He said the bill applies to private process servers only, not sheriffs, and includes a private cause of action with potential damages up to $25,000.
Members questioned whether any livestreaming should be allowed at all and discussed balancing recording for safety and record‑keeping against the risk of exploiting traumatized individuals. Following discussion and clarification on enforcement and penalties, the committee voted to send HB 20‑41, as amended, to full judiciary (7 ayes, 0 no).
