House Bill 41, sponsored by Rep. Joni Jenkins, D-Shively, would allow tenants who have a domestic violence order or interpersonal protective order against someone to get out of a rental agreement or housing lease established after the proposed law takes effect. Civil liability for the landlord’s loss of income due to the lease termination would fall to the alleged abuser, according to the bill.
The provisions would apply whether or not the alleged abuser named in a protective order is a co-tenant, the bill states.
Additionally, HB 41 would prohibit landlords from denying someone a lease based on the fact that a person has taken out an emergency protective order, domestic violence order or other type of restraining order. The bill also would prohibit landlords from using rental agreements to penalize tenants who request assistance from emergency services and allow a victim to request that locks be changed by the landlord with at least 72 hours’ notice.
HB 41 passed the chamber by a vote of 90-3. Rep. Lynn Bechler, R-Marion, voted against the measure, which now goes to the Senate for consideration. See next week's issue of The Crittenden Press to read why Bechler opposed the bill.
