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A 1584

Increases penalties for criminal use of a firearm in the first degree when committing a drug related felony offense

2025 Regular Session Introduced by John Mikulin

Allows early termination of a motor vehicle lease upon the lessee’s death without death-related fees, with survivors not obligated to continue or buy out the lease.

HELD FOR CONSIDERATION IN CODES
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Bill Summary · A 1584

Summary of A-1584 (Introduced Version)

Note on title discrepancy: The bill’s stated title refers to increasing penalties for criminal use of a firearm in the first degree when committing a drug-related felony offense. However, the text provided for this introduced version concerns motor vehicle leases and death-related termination. The summary below is based on the introduced version text about motor vehicle leases.

What the bill aims to do

  • Allow the early termination of a motor vehicle lease upon the death of the lessee and the return of the vehicle to the dealer or lessor.
  • Prohibit penalties or fees specifically for terminating a lease due to death, while permitting reasonable charges for excess wear, use, or mileage if those are specified in the lease.
  • Ensure survivors are not obligated to purchase, buy out, or continue the lease under its original terms after the lessee’s death.
  • Require disclosure to lessees about the death-termination option in lease contracts or financing agreements.
  • Create a civil penalty provision for noncompliance with the disclosure requirement.

Key provisions

  • Section 1 (Death termination of lease)

    • A dealer/lessor must permit early termination if the lessee dies and the vehicle is in the state and registered there.
    • No fee may be charged solely for death-related termination, except possible reasonable charges for excess wear, use, or mileage as allowed by the lease.
    • The surviving spouse, family member, guardian, or estate administrator/executor cannot be forced to: (a) buy the vehicle, (b) buy out the remainder of the lease, or (c) continue the lease under the original terms.
    • A death certificate or other satisfactory proof must be provided within 60 days of death to terminate the lease.
    • Termination occurs upon the vehicle’s return to the dealer/lessor.
    • The provision does not apply to commercial vehicles and does not apply to a surviving co-lessee who signed the lease with the decedent.

  • Section 2 (Disclosure requirement and penalties)

    • Dealers/lessors must disclose, in the lease/financing contract, that the lease may be terminated early upon the lessee’s death.
    • Violation of the disclosure requirement carries a $500 civil penalty, enforceable via the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999.

  • Section 3 (Effective date)

    • Section 1 takes effect immediately for leases signed on or after enactment.
    • Section 2 takes effect on the first day of the second month after enactment.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Individual lessees and the surviving family members or estate representatives of deceased lessees.
  • Secondary: Dealers/lessors and motor vehicle leasing companies.
  • Not affected: Commercial vehicles; surviving co-lessees who signed the lease with the decedent.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced: January 9, 2024.
  • Status: Held for Consideration in Codes (as of May 13, 2025; previously referred to Codes on January 10, 2025).
  • Related legislation: Companion bill S 2372; several prior-session A bills listed as related.

Additional context

  • The bill emphasizes consumer protections and predictable handling of leases upon a lessee’s death, reducing potential financial or logistical burdens on survivors while preserving reasonable wear-and-use charges as governed by the lease.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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