Georgia House bill by Rep. Reeves revising self-storage lien enforcement and advertising passes House and Senate

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Matt Reeves aims to update requirements for self-service storage facility lien enforcement and advertising following approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Friday, April 4, clearing the House by a vote of 163-1 and the Senate by a vote of 54-0.

The bill, introduced as HB131 on Monday, Jan. 27 during the 2025 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Self-service storage facilities; revise advertisement requirements before an owner can enforce an owner’s lien’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill revises the advertising requirements for enforcing an owner’s lien on self-service storage facilities in Georgia. It mandates that owners can enforce liens without judicial intervention if they comply with certain procedures. Owners must obtain written rental agreements from occupants that define terms and conditions, including payment obligations and consequences of default, such as denial of access and sale of stored personal property. If an occupant defaults for 30 days, the owner must notify the occupant and other interested parties of the intent to sell the property through specified means and adhere to a public sale advertising protocol. The act becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies to lien enforcement actions initiated on or after this date.

In the House, 69 Democrats and 94 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, while one Republican opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 23 Democrats and 31 Republicans voted in favor, with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Stan Gunter (Republican-8th), Rep. Scott Holcomb (Democrat-101st), and Rep. Rob Leverett (Republican-123rd), along with three other co-sponsors.

Reeves graduated from Mercer University and again from University of Georgia Law School with a JD.

Reeves, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 99th House District, replacing previous state representative Marvin Lim.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday, May 12.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.