Landlords must now return security deposits within 21 days of a tenancy ending and can only withhold money for unpaid rent, other agreed-upon charges, or repairs beyond normal wear and tear. If a tenant requests an itemized accounting within 45 days, the landlord must provide it, and landlords who fail to follow these rules or wrongfully keep deposits face up to $200 in punitive damages.
The amendment changed the security deposit return deadline from "two weeks" to "twenty-one days" and refined the language throughout to clarify landlord withholding procedures, including changing "shall" to "must" and restructuring the reasons for withholding into numbered subsections—these are technical clarifications that STRENGTHEN the bill's enforceability without altering its core purpose of protecting tenants' security deposits.
Signed by the Governor S.J. 256
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 197
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 229
Signed by the President S.J. 186
House of Representatives Do Pass Passed, YEAS 65, NAYS 2. H.J. 208
Commerce and Energy Certified uncontested, placed on consent
Commerce and Energy Do Pass Passed, YEAS 13, NAYS 0.
Commerce and Energy Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Commerce and Energy H.J. 114
Senate Do Pass Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 0. S.J. 75
Commerce and Energy Certified uncontested, placed on consent
Commerce and Energy Do Pass Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 0.
Commerce and Energy Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Commerce and Energy S.J. 10
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Do Pass
Commerce and Energy — Do Pass
Do Pass
Commerce and Energy — Do Pass