Idaho HB 138 Summary

• Streamlines unlawful detainer procedures by allowing trials within 12 days for nonpayment cases and 72 hours for forcible detainer cases, with reduced service requirements of 5 days and 24 hours respectively.

• Establishes new tenant remedies for deficient rental conditions including rent abatement or repair-and-deduct options, with mandatory 3-day notice to landlords before legal action.

• Requires landlords to return security deposits within 21-30 days with itemized statements of retained amounts; tenants can recover full deposit plus treble damages if landlords fail to comply within 5 business days of notice.

• Adds protections for crime victims to terminate leases early for domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, or stalking, and requires landlords to change locks within 24 hours upon presentation of court orders or police reports.

• Creates new sections addressing property abandonment presumptions, abandoned personal property storage procedures with 15-day retrieval windows, and repeals provisions regarding separate damage actions.