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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 Mark Niesse
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.

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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.

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