HB7 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Juandalynn GivanRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Apartments; requires owners to perform background checks on certain players and enact certain policies regarding keys

Summary

HB7 would require owners or operators of qualifying apartments to perform background checks on staff and contractors with access to dwelling units and to enforce strict key management.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill would require background screening for employees and contractors who may access dwelling units, including checks of criminal history and sexual offender registries from all states and DC. It would also require apartment owners to maintain a log of key issuance and return, establish policies for key issuance, storage, and access (including unissued keys), and replace or rekey locks if they cannot account for missing keys (with occupants possibly charged for the costs). The act applies to apartments defined as four-or-more-unit rental properties and would take effect October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Apartment owners or operators of qualifying properties must perform background checks on staff and contractors and manage keys according to the new rules.
• Employees or contractors who work for or with the apartment and access dwelling units would be required to undergo background checks as a condition of employment.
• Tenants or occupants could be charged for the actual costs of replacing or rekeying locks if a missing key cannot be accounted for and last issued to the occupant.

Key Provisions

• Background checks are required for each employee or contractor who may access dwelling units, as a condition of employment.
• Background checks must include criminal history records and sexual offender registries from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
• Owners must maintain a log of key issuance and return for each dwelling unit.
• Owners must establish policies and procedures for issuing, returning, storing, and accessing dwelling unit keys, including unissued keys.
• Owners must replace or rekey locks if they cannot account for one or more keys that can access a dwelling unit, with occupants possibly charged for replacement costs when the missing key was last issued to them.
• The act becomes effective October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Businesses & Financial Institutions