HB 5034 Summary

• Entitles persons forcibly and unlawfully ejected from land or tenements to recover three times actual damages or $200, whichever is greater, plus possession of the property.

• Protects tenants whose possessory interests are unlawfully interfered with by owners, lessors, or licensors through force, threats, property removal, lock changes, boarding, utility shutoffs, or nuisances; allows recovery of actual damages or $200 per occurrence, whichever is greater.

• Provides exceptions to tenant protections where landlords act pursuant to court order, make necessary repairs/inspections, or in cases of tenant abandonment with current rent unpaid and diligent inquiry.

• Adds exception for landlords who reasonably believe a deceased tenant abandoned premises after at least 30 days, provided proper notice procedures and attempts to contact next of kin are followed.

• Permits injured parties to bring actions for possession, injunctive relief, or damages within 90 days for possession claims and 1 year for damages claims; allows consolidation of claims or separate lawsuits.