Politics
Politics

Bill to help victims escape violent homes passes Georgia Legislature

3/29/18 - Atlanta - Rules committee members vote on bills to add to the rules calendar during a late afternoon rules meeting. Thursday was the 40th and final day of the 2018 General Assembly. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

3/29/18 - Atlanta - Rules committee members vote on bills to add to the rules calendar during a late afternoon rules meeting. Thursday was the 40th and final day of the 2018 General Assembly. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
By
March 29, 2018

A bill that would allow victims of domestic violence to break their leases without having to pay a penalty won final approval Thursday.

The Georgia House of Representatives voted 166-0 to pass House Bill 834, which is designed to help family violence victims escape their abusers.

Legislators say victims shouldn't be trapped in a violent relationship just because they can't afford to move out.

The measure would allow a tenant to terminate a residential lease 30 days after providing a landlord written notice when a judge has issued a protective order in a family violence case.

The bill now advances to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature.

Never miss a minute of what's happening in Georgia Politics at PoliticallyGeorgia.com.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock addresses supporters at his election night watch party at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Warnock: Political violence, hate speech could kill democracy

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning political violence one day after the death of Charlie Kirk.

What Tennessee fans think of their old coach, Derek Dooley, running for U.S. Senate

As their former head football coach, Derek Dooley, runs for Senate, most Tennessee fans in Georgia didn’t even know he was in the race.

Clark Dean preps outsider-themed GOP run for Georgia governor

The business executive files paperwork to join a Republican field that includes several prominent candidates.

The Latest

Derek Dooley wasn't very successful as football coach of the Tennessee Vols. He's hoping for better results in his campaign for U.S. Senate. (File 2012 AP)

Credit: AP

What Tennessee fans think of their old coach, Derek Dooley, running for U.S. Senate

Clark Dean preps outsider-themed GOP run for Georgia governor

Early voting begins for special state Senate runoff election

Featured

Delta employees are under investigation because of content “related to the recent murder of activist Charlie Kirk” that “went well beyond healthy, respectful debate,” CEO Ed Bastian wrote in a companywide memo Friday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Delta suspends employees for social posts related to Charlie Kirk’s killing

Delta joins a list of employers, including an NFL team and news network MSNBC, that have punished employees for posting inflammatory comments about Kirk’s death.

As Tech, UGA celebrate, a historic first for state’s Division I teams

All seven of the state's FBS and FBC teams — Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Mercer and West Georgia — prevailed Saturday.

Suspect arrested after North Georgia officer shot in line of duty

Capt. Brantley Worley remains in critical condition after incident in McCaysville, which is near the Georgia-Tennessee border.