AB 246: Social Security Tenant Protection Act of 2025.

This bill adds a new provision to the civil code, allowing tenants to assert social security hardship as an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer proceeding due to nonpayment of rent. To qualify, the tenant must provide evidence that social security payments have been terminated, delayed, or reduced due to no fault of the tenant, and that the hardship prevented them from paying the rent. If the tenant is successful, the court will issue a stay of the action. However, the tenant remains obligated to pay past due rent, and within 14 days of social security benefits being restored, they must either pay all past due rent or enter into a mutually agreed upon payment plan with the landlord. If the tenant pays or enters into a payment plan, the court will dismiss the unlawful detainer action with prejudice or set aside the judgment against all parties involved.