DisputeKit / Law changes
Security deposit and subscription law changes in 2025 and 2026, by state
Several states changed their tenant and subscription rules in 2025 and 2026. Many older guides online still show the previous rules. Below is every change we found while checking each state's law against the official text, with a link to that text.
Checked against the official text on October 10, 2026. General information, not legal advice; not yet reviewed by an attorney. How we check
Security deposits
District of Columbia, since August 14, 2026
Stricter 45-day notice when a landlord claims money
A landlord claiming unpaid amounts must send the 45-day notice personally, by email, or by certified mail to your forwarding address, with photographs or other supporting documents and a statement of your right to dispute it.
Source: D.C. Code § 42-3502.17
Louisiana, since August 1, 2026
Up to 15 extra days for the itemized statement
Act 63 of 2026 lets a landlord who keeps part of the deposit send the itemized statement of deductions up to 15 days after the one-month deadline.
South Dakota, since July 1, 2026
Deposit deadline is now 21 days instead of two weeks
Senate Bill 4 (2026) set 21 days, counted from the later of the end of the tenancy and the landlord receiving your mailing address. Move-outs before July 1, 2026 may still fall under the old two-week rule.
Source: South Dakota Session Laws 2026, chapter 179 (Senate Bill 4)
Colorado, since January 1, 2026
Deposit deadline is now 30 days instead of one month
House Bill 25-1249 changed the default deadline from one month to 30 days after the lease ends or the premises are surrendered, whichever is later. A lease can still allow a longer period, up to 60 days.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-12-103, as amended by House Bill 25-1249 (effective January 1, 2026)
California, since April 1, 2025
Photos required for repair and cleaning deductions
A landlord deducting for repairs or cleaning must photograph the unit after you move out and again after the work, and send the photos with the itemized statement. For tenancies starting on or after July 1, 2025, move-in photos are required too.
Source: California Civil Code § 1950.5
Subscriptions and automatic renewals
Connecticut, since July 1, 2026
Annual reminders, phone cancellation, and stronger enforcement
Amendments added an annual reminder, a telephone cancellation option, and made violations an unfair trade practice.
Virginia, since 2026
Automatic-renewal law amended
Acts 2026, chapters 931 and 932, amended Virginia's automatic renewal law. The current text requires cancellation at least as easy as signing up, through each method you could use to sign up, without having to talk to an agent unless signing up required one.
Source: Code of Virginia § 59.1-207.46 (automatic renewal offers)
Maryland, since June 1, 2026
New automatic-renewal law
Chapters 204 and 205 of 2025 created Maryland's automatic renewal law, in force since June 1, 2026.
Source: Maryland Code, Commercial Law § 14-1329 (Automatic Renewals)
New York, since November 7, 2025
Cancelling must be as easy as signing up
Amendments to General Business Law § 527-a require a cancellation method as easy as the one you used to sign up, available through every channel the business allows for signing up, including online.
Maine, since 2025
Health clubs added, and a 3× refund rule
Public Law 2025, chapter 376 added health club memberships to Maine's automatic-renewal rules and a refund of three times unauthorized charges.
Massachusetts, since September 2, 2025
Attorney General rules on automatic renewals
Regulations under chapter 93A (940 CMR 38.00) require a simple cancellation method, as easy as signing up and through the same medium. Massachusetts has no automatic-renewal statute.
Source: Massachusetts Attorney General regulation 940 CMR 38.05 (Recurring Fees and Trial Offers)
Arkansas, since 2025
New automatic-renewal law: sign up online, cancel online
Act 652 of 2025 requires a business that lets you accept an automatic renewal online to let you cancel exclusively online, and in the same medium you used to sign up.
California, since July 1, 2025
Click-to-cancel and annual reminders
AB 2863 strengthened California's Automatic Renewal Law: easy online cancellation and annual reminders, for contracts made or renewed on or after July 1, 2025.
Source: California Business and Professions Code § 17600 et seq. (Automatic Renewal Law)
Minnesota, since January 1, 2025
New automatic-renewal law
Minnesota's automatic renewal law applies to contracts entered into, modified, or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, including an online cancellation option.
Source: Minnesota Statutes § 325G.59
Small claims court limits
- Maine: Limit raised to $10,000Since January 1, 2026. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 14, § 7482
- West Virginia: Magistrate court limit raised to $20,000Since 2025. West Virginia Code § 50-2-1 (as amended by 2025 Enrolled Committee Substitute for House Bill 2761)
- Nebraska: Limit raised to $7,500Since July 1, 2025. Nebraska Revised Statutes § 25-2802
- Utah: Limit $20,000 (including attorney fees) for claims filed 2025 through 2029Since January 1, 2025. Utah Code § 78A-8-102
Proposed, but not law
These bills got attention but had not become law when we checked. In these states, federal law and the general consumer protection statute still apply.
- Alabama: HB 610 (2026, automatic renewal) stayed in committee.
- Arizona: HB 2951 (2026, automatic renewal) passed the House but was held in the Senate.
- Michigan: House Bill 4826 (2025, automatic renewal) was introduced but not enacted.
- Mississippi: House Bills 378 and 987 (2026, automatic renewal) died in committee.
- Missouri: House Bill 3512 (2026, automatic renewal) did not pass.
- Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Fair Renewal Act (HB 1851) did not become law in 2025 or 2026.
- Rhode Island: S 2768 (2026, online cancellation) was held for further study.
- Texas: S.B. 838 and H.B. 860 (2025, automatic renewal) did not pass.
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