SB3100: Landlord Retaliation Act

• Prohibits landlords from knowingly terminating tenancies, increasing rent, decreasing services, threatening eviction, or refusing to renew leases in retaliation for tenant complaints to government agencies, media, or community organizations about code violations or landlord practices.

• Protects tenants who complain to landlords about repair requirements, organize or join tenant unions, testify in court or administrative proceedings about premises conditions, or exercise any legal rights or remedies.

• Provides remedies for violations including termination of rental agreements with return of security deposits and prepaid rent, recovery of possession, damages up to 3 months' rent or 3 times actual damages (whichever is greater), attorney's fees, and punitive damages of $100-$2,000 per retaliatory act when fraud, oppression, or malice is proven.

• Creates a rebuttable presumption that a landlord's conduct was retaliatory if protected tenant conduct occurred within one year prior to the alleged retaliation.

• Establishes an affirmative defense in eviction actions if the court finds the tenant engaged in activity protected under this Act, and repeals the existing Retaliatory Eviction Act.