HB 5767 Summary

• Expands methods for tenants to notify landlords of intent to break a lease due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to include certified mail, email, personal delivery, electronic portals, text messages, or other previously accepted communication methods.

• Reduces the timeline for rent obligation termination from the first day of the second month rent is due to the fifteenth day after the tenant submits written notice to the landlord.

• Modifies documentation requirements to accept any police report detailing the tenant's reasonable apprehension of danger (whether or not charges were filed), rather than limiting acceptance to reports resulting in charges filed within 14 days.

• Allows qualified third-party verification forms signed under penalty of perjury from sexual assault/domestic violence counselors, licensed health professionals, mental health professionals, or clergy members affiliated with tax-exempt religious institutions.

• Requires landlords to maintain confidentiality of tenant forwarding address information and not disclose it to the alleged perpetrator of the violence, while preserving landlords' rights to withhold prepaid rent and security deposits as allowed by law.