HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1

FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 191

AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 191 on line 180 by adding after “ complaint ” and before “ . ” as they appear therein the following: “ within 60 days of the filing of the complaint and all required documents with the court under paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 191 by deleting lines 219 and 220 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“Section 3. This Act takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Section 4. The Justice of the Peace Court shall prepare a report providing the number of cases filed under § 5308A of Title 25, including identifying the County in which the cases were filed, and the time from filing to resolution, and submit the report to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council no later than no later than July 1, 2025.”.

SYNOPSIS

This amendment requires that a hearing on a tenant’s complaint for an action to withhold rent payments in escrow be scheduled within 60 days. This amendment also changes the effective date to July 1, 2024. This amendment also requires the Justice of the Peace Court to provide a report of the number of cases and in what County such cases were filed to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than July 1, 2025.