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S 5502

Relates to determining when a dwelling is abandoned

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Kavanagh

S 5502 creates criteria and procedures to declare a dwelling abandoned, affecting possession, maintenance, and rights for landlords, tenants, lenders.

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 5502

Summary: S 5502 – Relates to determining when a dwelling is abandoned

Overview

  • Bill number: S 5502
  • Title: Relates to determining when a dwelling is abandoned
  • Sponsor: Brian Kavanagh (primary)
  • Status: Referred to the Judiciary committee
  • Introduced: February 21, 2025
  • Related bill: S 4556 (prior-session)

Purpose and intent

S 5502 appears to seek a statutory framework for determining when a dwelling is considered abandoned. While the full text is not provided here, the title indicates the bill would establish criteria and procedures to classify a dwelling as abandoned, which could affect possession, maintenance responsibilities, and related legal processes.

Key provisions (high-level expectations)

The exact provisions are not included in the information provided. Based on the bill’s title and common elements in abandonment-related legislation, potential areas the bill could address include:
- Definitions
- What constitutes a “dwelling” for purposes of abandonment (e.g., single-family homes, multi-unit buildings, or separate units).
- What constitutes “abandonment” (e.g., prolonged vacancy, absence of occupant, cessation of utilities, lack of rent/foreclosure signals).
- Determination process
- Timeframes or indicators used to assess abandonment.
- Required notices to occupants, owners, or tenants.
- Due process steps (opportunity to respond or cure before a formal determination).
- Consequences and remedies
- Rights to possession, control, or sale of the property following a finding of abandonment.
- Responsibilities for maintenance, safety, and damage occurring after abandonment is determined.
- Protections for tenants or lawful occupiers (if any) and procedures to resolve disputes.
- Interaction with existing law
- How abandonment determinations interact with landlord-tenant statutes, foreclosure, municipal nuisance codes, or eminent domain processes.
- Remedies and enforcement
- Penalties for misclassification, improved enforcement mechanisms, or oversight provisions.

Note: The actual text would specify the precise definitions, thresholds, notices, and procedural steps.

Who would be affected

  • Property owners and landlords: impacts on possession, management, and potential release or sale of abandoned dwellings.
  • Occupants and tenants: potential protections, rights to remedy, or status changes if abandonment is determined.
  • Property managers and lenders: implications for maintenance obligations, insurance, and foreclosure-related processes.
  • Local governments and housing authorities: potential guidance on enforcement, code compliance, and nuisance abatement.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced and immediately referred to the Judiciary committee on February 21, 2025.
  • Current status indicates the bill is in committee consideration; no floor action, amendments, or enacted status provided yet.
  • As a judiciary matter, the bill would likely undergo hearings focused on legal standards, due process, and enforcement mechanisms.

Connection to related legislation

  • S 4556 (prior-session) is listed as related, suggesting either a companion measure or an earlier version with overlapping aims. Comparison to S 4556 could reveal differing approaches to abandonment criteria or due process protections.

Notes for readers

  • The exact textual provisions are not included in the information provided. For a complete understanding, the bill’s full text and committee reports should be consulted once available.

If you’d like, I can monitor updates and incorporate the bill’s specific definitions and procedural steps as soon as the text is published.

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

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