Assembly Bill 202 aims to amend existing laws regarding residential rental agreements in Wisconsin, specifically addressing voidable provisions within these agreements. The bill stipulates that if a court finds a lease contains a voidable provision, tenants have the option to either void the lease and transition to a periodic tenancy or sever the problematic provision while maintaining the rest of the lease. The bill also clarifies that certain provisions, such as those allowing landlords to terminate leases based on tenant actions related to law enforcement or safety services, are considered voidable. Additionally, it introduces a new section that specifies the Wisconsin Consumer Act does not apply to residential leases, thereby limiting the legal framework governing these agreements.

Furthermore, the bill establishes remedies for tenants affected by voidable provisions, allowing them to recover twice the amount of any pecuniary loss caused by such provisions, excluding any rent paid. It also specifies that tenants can only seek the remedies outlined in the new section, thereby streamlining the legal recourse available to them. The amendments include changes to the language of existing statutes, such as replacing "allows" with "authorizes" in several instances, and creating a new section (704.445) that details the remedies available for voidable residential rental agreements.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 704.44(intro.), 704.44, 704.44(1m)(intro.), 704.44(9), 704.44(10)