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Break Free From Domestic Violence Act
To provide additional housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill would amend the Violence Against Women Act to prohibit landlords from charging early lease termination fees to tenants in federally assisted housing who need to leave their leases due to being victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Tenants would be permitted to exit their leases early based on such victimization without incurring financial penalties. The prohibition would apply to housing assisted under covered housing programs administered under the Violence Against Women Act.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
Actions (2)
- Oct 6, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. · house
- Oct 6, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 6, 2025
Mrs. Sykes introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
A BILL
To provide additional housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Break Free From Domestic Violence Act”.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON THE IMPOSITION OF FEES FOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION.
Section 41411 of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (34 U.S.C. 12491) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(h) Prohibition on the Imposition of Fees for Early Lease Termination.—
“(1) Voluntary exit.—An applicant for or tenant of housing assisted under a covered housing program may voluntarily exit a lease for housing earlier than the end date of such lease on the basis that the applicant or tenant has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
“(2) Fee prohibition.—Notwithstanding any lease agreement, an applicant or tenant described in paragraph (1) may not be charged a fee for exiting a lease for housing earlier than the end date of such lease on the basis described in paragraph (1).”. <all>
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