H.R. 2227

Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief Expansion Act of 2019

This bill revises the authority of certain family members of a servicemember who dies or becomes catastrophically ill or injured while in military service to terminate a property lease or motor vehicle lease executed by the servicemember.

Specifically, the bill allows a dependent of such a servicemember to terminate such a lease during the one-year period following the servicemember's death. Under current law, only the servicemember's spouse may do so.

Current law also allows the spouse of such a servicemember to terminate such a lease during the one-year period after the servicemember incurs a catastrophic illness or injury. The bill specifies that this authority applies only if the servicemember lacks the mental capacity to manage his or her own affairs; otherwise, the servicemember, but not the spouse, may terminate the lease during the one-year period.