SB413: SB413 Landlord and Tenant; residential rental or lease agreement terminations if a tenant or a legal occupant of a residence experienced residential firearm violence; provide

Georgia law already lets tenants end a lease early if they or a minor child are protected by a family violence or stalking order. This bill adds a new category: residential firearm violence. If a tenant or another legal occupant of a rental home is the victim of a felony, misdemeanor, or other dangerous or injurious act involving a firearm at or near the residence, the tenant could give the landlord 30 days' written notice to end the lease. The notice must come with proof, such as a police report, medical record, a statement from a victim services provider, or a sworn affidavit from a qualified third party like a clergy member or counselor. Landlords must then give the tenant written notice of the termination date at least 72 hours before it takes effect. Tenants remain responsible for rent owed up to the termination date but cannot be charged extra fees or damages for leaving early, and if notice is given 14 or more days before move-in, no penalties apply at all. The rule cannot be waived by agreement between landlord and tenant.

• Adds 'residential firearm violence' as a new legal reason a tenant can terminate a residential lease early, alongside existing family violence and stalking order protections.
• Defines residential firearm violence to include felonies, misdemeanors, or other acts with a firearm that injure or seriously risk injuring a tenant or legal occupant at or near the residence.
• Requires tenants to give landlords 30 days' written notice and supporting documentation, such as a police report, medical record, or sworn affidavit from a qualified professional.
• Requires landlords to give tenants written notice specifying the termination date at least 72 hours before the lease actually ends.
• Limits tenant liability to prorated rent and any unpaid amounts owed, and bars landlords from charging extra fees or damages for the early termination.
• Prohibits landlords and tenants from waiving or modifying this protection by agreement under any circumstances.

The bill affects residential tenants and other legal occupants of rented homes in Georgia, landlords who manage residential leases, and third parties such as police, healthcare providers, victim services organizations, and clergy who may need to document or verify an incident of firearm violence.

Tenants who experience gun violence in or near their home would gain a faster, cheaper way to leave a dangerous residence without being locked into rent payments, extra fees, or lease penalties, while landlords would face new documentation and notice requirements before ending a tenancy this way.

• Revises O.C.G.A. § 44-7-23 to add 'residential firearm violence' as grounds for early lease termination, alongside existing family violence and stalking order protections.
• Section 1(a) defines key terms including 'residential firearm violence,' 'residence,' 'qualified third party,' and 'victim services provider.'
• Subsection (b) allows a tenant to terminate the lease 30 days after providing written notice that a tenant or legal occupant was a victim of residential firearm violence.
• Subsection (c) requires tenants to submit documentation with the notice, such as a police report, medical record, provider statement, or sworn affidavit.
• Subsection (d) requires landlords to give the tenant written notice of the termination date at least 72 hours before it takes effect.
• Subsection (e) limits tenant liability to prorated rent and unpaid amounts, bars additional fees or damages, and waives all penalties if notice is given 14 or more days before occupancy.
• Subsection (f) states the protection cannot be waived or modified by agreement between landlord and tenant under any circumstances.

1. 2026-01-27Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2026-01-16Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Kim Jackson (D, SD-041)Primary sponsor
• Harold Jones (D, SD-022)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Nan Orrock (D, SD-036)
• Donzella James (D, SD-028)
• Sally Harrell (D, SD-040)

• landlord tenant law
• gun violence
• lease termination
• renters rights
• domestic and family violence protections