he SSA’s legislative agenda over the last two years has shifted more toward stopping bills that will harm the industry. Stay tuned for next month’s annual legislative issue of SSA Magazine to learn more about the many and varied threats from which the SSA is protecting your business.
Alongside that defensive agenda, the SSA continues to pursue a robust set of offensive targets. I want to share some of the highlights with you here. Many thanks to my colleague Daniel Bryant (SSA’s legal and legislative counsel) for his persistent advocacy on these issues, especially in Maryland and Oklahoma.
As a reminder, in 2024, the SSA revamped its primary offensive targets to include establishing a process for handling non-monetary defaults and towing, recognizing the enforceability of unsigned rental agreements and ensuring the validity of electronically signed rental agreements.
These targets stand alongside the traditionally nettlesome target of eliminating newspaper advertising. Much to my chagrin, and despite nearly 40 states allowing for alternatives to newspaper advertising or not requiring advertising at all, the newspaper lobby continues to act as if we live in the 20th century (or maybe the 19th century) when everyone in town read the newspaper.
On July 1, updates to the self-storage laws in Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, and Virginia took effect. Indiana now allows for towing for non-monetary defaults; we strongly recommend that operators define such defaults, for example, the renter’s failure to maintain insurance or to keep the vehicle in an operable condition, in the rental agreement.
Iowa’s law provides a process for handling non-monetary defaults and recognizes the enforceability of unsigned rental agreements. Maryland also provides a process for handling non-monetary defaults and allows agreements to be delivered and executed electronically. Virginia has similarly established a non-monetary default process while also allowing operators to require occupants to follow the rental agreement when updating their last known address.
On Aug. 1, Louisiana’s new and improved self-storage law will take effect. Thanks to Senator Mark Abraham (who will be featured in next month’s issue), operators Jim White and Lana Griffin, and lobbyist Katherine Smith, the Louisiana legislation will eliminate the requirement to notify defaulted lessees using two email addresses and text messaging. Instead, the law will require notice by verified mail and a single email address.
The updated law will also establish a process for handling non-monetary defaults and non-renewals, expand the types of websites that may be used for advertising lien sales, allow towing for non-monetary defaults, recognize electronically delivered and executed rental agreements, and allow operators to control the method that the lessee must use when updating their last known address.
On Nov. 1, updates to the Oklahoma self-storage act become law. These updates will establish a process for addressing non-monetary defaults, recognize the enforceability of unsigned rental agreements, permit towing for non-monetary defaults, and allow rental agreements to be delivered and executed electronically.
To ensure full compliance, be sure to read carefully the changes in every state where you operate and purchase updated annotated lien law manuals from the SSA’s website for additional guidance.
Additionally, bills remain pending in three states: Massachusetts, Michigan, and Ohio. If you operate in any of these states, especially Ohio, we could use your help asking legislators to prioritize our bills. Please email me at jdoherty@selfstorage.org to learn what you can do.
Finally, the SSA will soon start to develop its offensive agenda for next year’s legislative sessions. We are here to serve you and welcome your feedback on the states and issues that we should consider addressing in 2027.