HF3591 Summary

• Expands tenant protections by requiring court-ordered expungement of eviction records in additional circumstances, including cases settled with defendant fulfilling terms or filed in violation of notice requirements.

• Restricts landlord practices including: prohibiting lease renewal requests sooner than six months before expiration, capping late fees at 8% of overdue rent, and preventing retaliation against tenants who report code violations or organize tenant associations.

• Establishes tenant rights to terminate leases without penalty if experiencing domestic abuse, sexual conduct, or harassment by providing qualifying documentation; landlords prohibited from disclosing victim information.

• Creates new protections for tenant screening by prohibiting denial based on pending evictions or non-final eviction judgments, requiring individual taxpayer identification number options on applications, and increasing penalties for violations up to $1,000.

• Prohibits landlord discrimination against tenants using rental assistance or housing choice vouchers; guarantees right to organize tenant associations; and provides remedies for new construction delays including alternative housing, rent payment by landlord, or lease termination with full refund.