The bill seeks to improve housing stability for tenants by amending the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act. Key provisions include capping late fees at 10 percent of the total monthly rent and prohibiting late fees for payments made within five days of the due date. It also requires landlords to provide a minimum of 90 days' written notice for rent increases, with extended notice periods for significant increases (120 days for 5% and 180 days for 10% or more). Additionally, the bill allows tenants to propose changes to their rent due dates based on their income and mandates the acceptance of emergency rental assistance funds.

Further amendments focus on security deposits and tenant rights, limiting security deposits to two months' rent and ensuring that last month's rent does not exceed one month's rent if charged upfront. The bill prohibits nonrefundable fees at the start of a tenancy unless clearly stated in a written agreement and allows tenants to pay deposits and last month's rent in installments. It also preempts local governments from enacting regulations affecting landlord-tenant agreements, ensuring uniformity across the state. A new section mandates a comprehensive study on rental assistance programs, requiring a report by December 1, 2027, to assess their effectiveness in addressing housing instability.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 59.18.140, 59.18.170, 59.18.410, 59.18.380, 59.18.285, 59.18.260, 59.20.090, 59.20.170, 59.20.060, 59.20.030