RTO Legislative Activity - States With Rent-to-Own Laws

State Rent-to-Own Legislative History

In 1984, Michigan lawmakers, rent-to-own industry owners and consumer groups agreed to balanced legislation that would foster rent-to-own industry security with specific rent-to-own consumer protections. Since then the mutual agreement of balanced legislation has successfully created 47 state rent-to-own laws.

Ninety-five percent of the U.S. population living in 47 states are now subject to state laws defining the rent-to-own transaction as a lease. Listed below are the states with rent-to-own laws and the years in which they were enacted:

    •     Alabama (1995)
    •     Alaska (1999)
    •     Arizona (1995)
    •     Arkansas (1987)
    •     California (1994)
    •     Colorado (1990)
    •     Connecticut (1991)
    •     Delaware (1991)
    •     Florida (1988)
    •     Georgia (1985)
    •     Guam (1998)
    •     Hawaii (1997)
    •     Idaho (1993)
    •     Illinois (1987)
    •     Indiana (1987)
    •     Iowa (1987)
    •     Kansas (1991)
    •     Kentucky (1990)
    •     Louisiana (1991)
    •     Maine (1992)
    •     Maryland (1989)
    •     Massachusetts (1986)
    •     Michigan (1984)
    •     Minnesota (1990)
    •     Mississippi (1995)
    •     Missouri (1988)
    •     Montana (2001)
    •     Nebraska (1989)
    •     Nevada (1989)
    •     New Hampshire (1994)
    •     New Mexico (1995)
    •     New York (1986)
    •     North Dakota (1993)
    •     Ohio (1988)
    •     Oklahoma (1988)
    •     Oregon (1993)
    •     Pennsylvania (1996)
    •     Puerto Rico (1998)
    •     Rhode Island (1989)
    •     South Carolina (1985)
    •     South Dakota (1991)
    •     Tennessee (1987)
    •     Texas (1985)
    •     Utah (1993)
    •     Vermont (1994)
    •     Virginia (1988)
    •     Washington (1992)

    •     Washington, D.C. (2002)
    •     West Virginia (1993)
    •     Wyoming (1996)