HB 1186 Summary

• Prohibits landlords from renting dwelling units they know have a current bed bug infestation, including public housing and university/college dormitory properties.

• Requires landlords to visually inspect units for bed bugs upon receiving notice of suspected infestation and disclose to prospective tenants if adjacent units are currently infested or were treated within the previous 30 days.

• Establishes a 5-day response requirement for landlords to acknowledge notice and inspect/obtain investigatory services from a licensed pest control operator upon discovery of suspected infestation.

• Requires landlords to obtain pest control remediation within 7 days of confirmed infestation, inspect adjacent units, notify affected tenants and the Department of Health, and maintain records for 2 years.

• Allocates bed bug remediation costs based on timing of discovery: landlord bears full cost if tenant reports within 60 days of lease start or 30 days of adjacent unit infestation; tenant shares costs equally for reports after those periods, except in public housing and educational dorm settings where landlord bears full cost.