Social Security Tenant Protection Act of 2025.

Assembly Member Bryan's Social Security Tenant Protection Act of 2025 establishes temporary eviction protections for tenants experiencing income loss due to Social Security benefit payment interruptions. The legislation prohibits courts from issuing eviction summons based on nonpayment of rent during officially declared benefit interruptions, defined as delays of three or more days beyond scheduled payment dates.

The Act requires landlords to provide modified eviction notices during interruption periods, including a declaration form that tenants can sign attesting to Social Security-related financial distress. Tenants who submit signed declarations within 15 days cannot be deemed in default for covered rental debt accrued during the interruption. The Department of Finance must monitor benefit payments and notify the Legislature and courts when interruptions occur and when payments resume.

The law creates new procedural requirements for unlawful detainer actions during benefit interruptions. Courts must use standardized cover sheets identifying cases involving Social Security recipients, and landlords must follow specific notice requirements including longer response periods and mandatory language about tenant protections. Cases based on notices that don't meet these requirements may be dismissed.

Additional provisions prevent landlords from applying security deposits or current rent payments to covered rental debt without written tenant agreement. The Department of Housing and Community Development must provide translations of required notices in multiple languages by January 2026. All provisions sunset on January 20, 2029.