The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1303 aims to enhance the registration process for nonresident landlords and increase penalties for repeat building and fire code violations. It introduces new definitions such as "Identifying information," "Nonresident owner," and "Population," which clarify landlord and property manager responsibilities. Municipalities with populations of 25,000 or more are required to mandate nonresident owners or project-based housing providers to report their current residential addresses and identifying information to the tax assessor or designated municipal officer. If they fail to comply, the municipality will use the address to which property tax bills are sent as the official address for compliance purposes. The bill also emphasizes landlords' responsibilities to maintain habitable conditions and comply with health and safety codes, while reinforcing the confidentiality of reports submitted to tax assessors.

Additionally, the bill modifies penalties for violations of the State Building Code and State Fire Prevention Code, changing the classification of violations from "infractions" to "violations." First offenses will incur fines ranging from $200 to $1,000, with increased penalties for subsequent offenses ranging from $500 to $2,000. Local fire marshals are granted the authority to issue citations for violations, with fines of up to $250 per citation. The distribution of fines is specified, allocating 90% to municipalities for local violations and 100% to the State Treasurer for violations issued by the State Fire Marshal. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025, with the overall goal of improving compliance with safety regulations and holding landlords accountable for maintaining safe living conditions.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 29-254a, 29-291c, 29-394