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HB 779

Property; require landlords and managers of apartment buildings or complexes to provide local police and fire departments certain information

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Eric Bell and 5 co-sponsors

House Bill 779 requires landlords to provide police and fire departments with after-hours contact info, improving emergency response and imposing fines for non-compliance.

House Second Readers
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Bill Summary · HB 779

Summary of House Bill 779

Bill Number: HB 779
Title: Property; require landlords and managers of apartment buildings or complexes to provide local police and fire departments certain information
Status: House Second Readers
Introduced: March 18, 2025
Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 779 aims to enhance communication between landlords or managers of apartment buildings and local emergency services, specifically police and fire departments. The bill seeks to ensure that these departments have immediate access to critical contact information for after-hours management and maintenance, thereby improving response times during emergencies.

Key Provisions

The bill proposes several important changes to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, specifically adding a new section (44-7-14.2) to Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 44, which governs landlord-tenant relations. The key provisions include:

  1. Information Requirement:

    • Landlords or managers must provide local police and fire departments with:
      • Current after-hours maintenance telephone numbers.
      • Current after-hours management telephone numbers.

  2. Penalties for Non-Compliance:

    • A fine of $2,000 will be imposed for each violation of the information requirement.
    • If a landlord or manager is found to be in continuing violation, an additional fine of $2,000 will be incurred every five days until compliance is achieved.
    • Failure to respond to communications from local police and fire departments within one hour will result in a fine of $5,000.

  3. Allocation of Fines:

    • All fines collected under this section will be directed to the Clayton County Public Schools Homeless Education Department.

Affected Parties

  • Landlords and Managers: The bill directly impacts landlords and property managers of apartment buildings and complexes by imposing new obligations and potential penalties.
  • Local Police and Fire Departments: These agencies will benefit from improved access to critical contact information, which may enhance their operational efficiency during emergencies.
  • Clayton County Public Schools: The bill indirectly supports educational initiatives for homeless students through the allocation of collected fines.

Effective Date and Applicability

  • The provisions of this bill will become effective on July 1, 2025. It will apply to all violations occurring on or after this date.

Legislative Actions

  • March 18, 2025: Introduced and placed in the House Hopper.
  • March 20, 2025: First Readers in the House.
  • March 21, 2025: Second Readers in the House.

This summary provides an overview of House Bill 779, highlighting its purpose, key provisions, affected parties, and important dates. The bill represents a legislative effort to improve emergency response capabilities in residential settings.

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

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