The bill amends existing laws regarding the documentation and approval process for emotional support animals (ESAs) in housing. It establishes that tenants with disabilities can request to keep an ESA as a reasonable accommodation, and landlords may deny such requests only under specific conditions, such as if the animal poses a direct threat to safety or health. Notably, the bill mandates that landlords must obtain supporting information from tenants to substantiate their need for an ESA, which must now include documentation from a health care practitioner who has established a client-provider relationship with the tenant at least 30 days prior to the request. This supporting information must detail the therapeutic support provided by the animal and include the practitioner's effective date, license number, and type of license.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that emotional support animal registrations alone do not suffice to establish a tenant's need for an ESA. It also emphasizes that landlords cannot request information that reveals the diagnosis or severity of a tenant's disability, although tenants may choose to disclose such information voluntarily. The bill introduces a new provision stating that the required documentation does not compel landlords to permit the presence of an ESA if they comply with applicable laws. Definitions for "emotional support animal" and "health care practitioner" are revised to ensure clarity in the context of the law.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(1): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(2): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(3): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(4): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(5): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(6): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(7): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(8): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1(9): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_1: 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(1): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(10): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(11): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(12): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(2): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(3): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(4): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(5): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(6): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(7): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(8): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2(9): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_2: 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(1): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(10): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(11): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(12): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(2): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(3): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(4): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(5): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(6): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(7): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(8): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3(9): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_3: 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X(1): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X(2): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X(3): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X(4): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X(5): 70-24-114, 70-33-110
SB0149_X: 70-24-114, 70-33-110