Housing (Tenant Rights)

died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 2117: Resolve, Directing The Department Of Health And Human Services To Amend Its Rule Chapter 101: Mainecare Benefits Manual, Chapter Ii, Section 21, Home And Community Benefits For Members With Intellectual Disabilities Or Autism Spectrum Disorder

This bill directs the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to update rules governing MaineCare benefits for individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder living in shared housing. Specifically, it changes how providers manage vacancies in two-person homes by extending the time a bed can be held for a hospitalized resident from 30 to 60 days and increasing the search period for a replacement housemate from 90 to 120 days before issuing an eviction notice to the remaining resident. The legislation also allows for additional 60-day extensions of the search period under certain conditions, including when a resident has lived at the address for at least five years, ensuring more time to find suitable housing arrangements without immediate displacement.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill extends time for housing vacancy management and replacement search, preventing premature eviction and stabilizing shared housing arrangements for vulnerable populations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

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died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 1022: An Act To Protect And Increase Access To Justice In Civil Legal Matters For Persons With Low Incomes

LD 1022 requires Maine to appropriate $9.5 million annually starting July 1, 2026, for civil legal aid services targeting low-income residents. It directly affects approximately 356,500 Mainers living below 200% of the federal poverty level who face civil legal issues like eviction, domestic violence, or benefits disputes without representation. Key provisions mandate quarterly fund distribution through the Civil Legal Services Fund Commission, annual reporting on unmet legal needs (including attorney-to-resident ratios), and biennial legislative hearings to assess funding adequacy. The bill aims to sustain and improve access to justice by ensuring consistent, increased funding for legal assistance in civil matters.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $9.5M annually for civil legal aid, increasing public service funding under state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds legal aid to prevent evictions and address housing disputes for low-income residents, directly protecting tenant rights and housing stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

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failed · Maine · Senate Jun 3, 2025

LD 1344: An Act To Improve The Response Time To Tenant Mold Complaints

LD 1344 requires local health officers to investigate tenant complaints about nonsurface mold in rental units within 90 days. If unhealthy mold is confirmed, landlords must provide a remediation plan to tenants within 5 business days and complete the work within 60 days of the investigation report. Tenants can then file a formal complaint under habitability laws if landlords fail to fix the issue. The bill directly affects renters, landlords, and local health officials by establishing clear timelines for mold remediation in rental housing. It amends Maine's habitability law to add specific response requirements for mold complaints.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates timely mold remediation for landlords, strengthening tenant habitability protections under housing law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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failed · Maine · House Apr 8, 2025

LD 521: An Act To Prohibit Discrimination In Housing Based On Source Of Income, Veteran Status Or Military Status

LD 521 prohibits housing discrimination in Maine based on source of income, military status, or veteran status. It amends Maine’s housing law to explicitly protect renters and prospective tenants from discrimination related to housing vouchers, government benefits (like Social Security or child support), military service, or veteran status. Landlords, agents, and brokers are now barred from refusing to rent, charging different terms, or advertising in ways that discriminate based on these categories. The law applies to all housing accommodations and aligns with existing protections for race, gender, disability, and other categories under Maine law.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits housing discrimination based on income source (e.g., vouchers), military/veteran status, strengthening tenant protections and access to housing.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProhibits housing discrimination based on veteran status, directly protecting veterans from exclusion in housing95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights Veteran Housing

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failed · Maine · Senate Apr 30, 2025

LD 824: An Act Regarding Pet Fees In Rental Housing

This bill limits pet-related fees for renters in Maine. Landlords may only charge a refundable security deposit of up to $300 for pets or a monthly pet rent fee not exceeding 1% of the total rent, but cannot charge non-refundable fees. It prohibits all other pet-related charges, including non-refundable deposits or fees for service or assistance animals. The law directly affects tenants with pets and landlords in rental housing across Maine. Service and assistance animals remain exempt from all pet fees under the bill.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingLimits pet fees for tenants, reducing costs and strengthening tenant protections in rental housing, directly advancing affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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failed · Maine · Senate May 27, 2025

LD 1534: An Act Enabling Municipalities To Protect Tenants And Stabilize Rents

LD 1534 allows Maine municipalities to adopt local rent stabilization and tenant protection rules. It enables towns to set annual rent increase limits (capping increases at 5% or the local Consumer Price Index change, whichever is lower) and require "just cause" for evictions - meaning landlords must have specific reasons like nonpayment, lease violations, or criminal activity to evict a tenant. The law directly affects renters and landlords in participating municipalities, with exemptions for owner-occupied buildings (4 units or fewer), housing authority units, dormitories, and elderly care facilities. Municipalities adopting these rules must report annually to state housing authorities, but the bill does not override existing state or federal tenant protections.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables rent caps (5% or CPI) and just cause evictions, directly protecting tenants and stabilizing housing costs per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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signed · Maine · House May 29, 2025

LD 733: An Act To Make Changes To The Law Based On A Pilot Project Conducted By The Maine State Housing Authority Regarding Efforts To Improve Access To Credit For Low-Income Renters

LD 733 is a concept draft that authorizes the Maine State Housing Authority to run a pilot project testing whether reporting rent payment histories to credit bureaus can help low-income renters improve their credit scores. The pilot will collect data on the effectiveness of this reporting method, with results to be shared with the Legislature by the next legislative session. Based on the pilot's findings, the bill would propose specific legal changes to implement successful strategies for improving credit access. This directly benefits low-income renters in Maine, who often struggle to build credit because their rent payments are not typically reported to credit agencies.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill pilot tests reporting rent payments to credit bureaus for low-income renters to improve credit access, directly advancing affordable housing by addressing a key barrier to housing stability and opportunity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

failed · Maine · Senate Jun 3, 2025

LD 1552: An Act To Prohibit Landlords From Setting Rents Through The Use Of Artificial Intelligence

LD 1552 prohibits landlords in Maine from using artificial intelligence or algorithmic devices to set or adjust rent for residential properties, including during lease renewals. This applies to any person responsible for determining rent amounts, directly affecting landlords and property managers across the state. The law defines "algorithmic device" as tools analyzing rent data to advise landlords, and "artificial intelligence" as systems that generate rent recommendations. Violating this ban would be treated as an unfair trade practice under Maine law. The bill aims to prevent automated rent-setting systems from influencing tenant costs.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits AI-driven rent adjustments, directly protecting tenants from opaque algorithmic rent hikes under LANDLORD AND TENANT subject, aligning with tenant protection indicators.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill explicitly prohibits landlords from using AI/algorithmic tools for rent setting, directly restricting technology application in housing policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights Artificial Intelligence

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failed · Maine · House Jun 9, 2025

LD 1036: An Act To Protect Recipients Of Public Assistance From Housing Discrimination

LD 1036 amends Maine's housing discrimination law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on "status as a recipient of federal, state or local public assistance," including housing subsidies and medical assistance. The bill directly affects housing providers (landlords, managers, agents) and public assistance recipients by making it unlawful to refuse housing, make discriminatory inquiries, or advertise based on this status. Key provisions ban actions like denying rentals, setting different terms, or evicting tenants solely because of public assistance status, adding it to existing protected categories like race and disability. This creates concrete legal protections for individuals relying on public assistance to secure housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits housing discrimination against public assistance recipients, strengthening tenant protections and expanding access to affordable housing by banning refusal of rentals based on aid status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

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died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 847: An Act To Prohibit Housing Discrimination

LD 847 prohibits housing discrimination in Maine by banning landlords from refusing to rent or negotiating for rental housing based on a tenant's **source of income**, such as housing vouchers, public assistance, Social Security benefits, or rental subsidies. It also prevents landlords from assessing a tenant's full rent amount when part of the rent is subsidized, requiring financial evaluations to apply only to the unsubsidized portion. The law, effective January 1, 2026, applies to most rental properties (excluding landlords with fewer than four units) and allows victims to seek $1,000 penalties or actual damages for violations. This directly affects renters using government assistance and landlords managing rental housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits discrimination against tenants using housing vouchers/public assistance, directly protecting vulnerable renters and expanding access to affordable housing.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits housing discrimination against tenants using housing vouchers/subsidies, benefiting immigrant tenants reliant on public assistance programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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