SB 1136: Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Local anti-rent gouging authority; civil penalty. Provides that any locality may by ordinance adopt anti-rent gouging provisions. The bill provides for notice and a public hearing prior to the adoption of such ordinance and specifies that all landlords who are under the ordinance may be required to give at least two months' written notice of a rent increase and cannot increase the rent by more than the locality's calculated allowance, not to exceed three percent, and states that such allowance is effective for a 12-month period beginning July 1 each year. The bill requires the locality to publish such allowance on its website by June 1 of each year. Certain facilities, as outlined in the bill, are exempt from such ordinance. The bill also requires a locality to establish an anti-rent gouging board to establish rules and procedures by which landlords may apply for and be granted exemptions from the rent increase limits set by the ordinance or delegate such duties and functions to an existing local board, department, or agency. Finally, the bill provides that a locality shall establish a civil penalty for failure to comply with the requirements set out in its ordinance.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 5

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. January 29, 2025Failed to report from General Laws and Technology with amendments (6-Y 6-N 3-A)
2. January 27, 2025Rereferred from Local Government and rereferred to General Laws and Technology (14-Y 0-N)
3. January 7, 2025Referred to Committee on Local Government
4. January 7, 2025Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25101933D