"All it does is require that you escrow your rent to use code violations as a defense," he says. "A tenant is always entitled to a hearing in eviction disputes."
Barrios, however, says he believes that tenants who do not escrow their rent will have no case if the bill is passed.
"Tenants are precluded from bringing their claims to court," he says.
Nevertheless, Schloming predicts that the bill will pass.
"I think we very successfully got our point across," Schloming says. "There were, especially from Barrios, some little doubts that I think we can easily address."
Barrios does not expect the joint committee to act on the bill until June. If approved, at that point it may go to another committee before moving on to the full House and Senate.