$HUMAN RIGHTS COMM-TECH

104th Regular Session Introduced by Tony McCombie

HB 1994 required storage facilities to notify renters within five days if their leased space was compromised, enhancing protection for personal property.

Summary of House Bill 1994

Bill Number: HB 1994
Title: To Amend the Law Concerning Self-Service Storage Facilities; and to Require Notification by a Self-Service Storage Facility to an Occupant When the Occupant's Leased Space is Compromised.
Status: Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment
Introduced: April 07, 2025
Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1994 aims to enhance the protections for individuals renting self-service storage spaces in Arkansas. The primary intent of the bill is to establish a requirement for storage facility operators to notify occupants when their leased space has been compromised. This is intended to safeguard the personal property of occupants and ensure they are informed of any potential risks to their belongings.

Key Provisions

The bill proposes the following key provisions:

Definition of Compromised Space:

The bill defines a "compromised" leased space as one that has been forcibly accessed, had property removed without authorization, or has been damaged to the extent that unauthorized individuals can access the contents.

Notification Requirement:

Operators of self-service storage facilities are required to notify occupants of a compromised space within five (5) business days of gaining actual knowledge of the compromise. Notification can be made via telephone, email, or regular mail.

Clarification of Responsibilities:

The bill clarifies that operators are not responsible for the care, custody, or control of the occupant’s personal property and do not have a duty to determine whether a leased space has been compromised.

Affected Parties

Occupants of Self-Service Storage Facilities: Individuals renting storage units would benefit from timely notifications regarding the security of their leased spaces.

Operators of Self-Service Storage Facilities: Storage facility operators would be required to implement notification procedures, which may involve administrative adjustments to their current practices.

Legislative Timeline

April 07, 2025: Bill filed.

April 08, 2025: Read for the first time, rules suspended, and referred to the House Committee on Insurance & Commerce.

April 09, 2025: Returned by the Committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation.

April 10, 2025: Read a third time, passed in the House, and transmitted to the Senate.

May 05, 2025: Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

Conclusion

While HB 1994 aimed to provide essential protections for individuals using self-service storage facilities, it ultimately did not progress past the Senate Committee stage. The proposed legislation highlighted the importance of communication between storage operators and occupants regarding the security of personal property stored in leased spaces.