The bill amends Section 34-18-58 of the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act to establish a statewide mandatory rental registry specifically for landlords leasing residential properties constructed prior to 1978. Landlords are required to register various information with the Department of Health, including their names, business addresses or PO boxes, and information about property managers. Additionally, landlords must provide a valid certificate of conformance for lead hazard mitigation or evidence of exemption. The deadline for registration is set for September 1, 2025.

The bill introduces civil penalties for landlords who fail to comply with the registration requirements, with fines starting at $50 per month for non-registration of basic information and $125 for failure to register lead hazard compliance. The effective date for these penalties is October 1, 2025. Notably, the bill eliminates the previous requirement that landlords must be compliant with registration before initiating eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent. This act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
718: 34-18-58