Bill > H1994

This bill amends Massachusetts state law to protect tenants from landlord harassment and discrimination based on immigration status. Specifically, the bill prohibits landlords from threatening to disclose or actually disclosing a tenant's immigration or citizenship status to any person or agency with the intent to harass, intimidate, retaliate, or influence the tenant to surrender possession of their dwelling. Landlords are also banned from bringing eviction actions based solely or partially on a tenant's immigration status. The law does allow landlords to comply with legal obligations, request financial qualification documentation, and provide notices about lease violations. If a landlord violates these provisions, tenants can file a civil action seeking actual damages, a civil penalty up to $2,000 per violation, attorney's fees, court costs, and other equitable relief. Importantly, the bill stipulates that a tenant's immigration status is irrelevant to housing rights litigation, and inquiries into immigration status are highly restricted, only permitted in very limited circumstances such as when the tenant's immigration status is directly contested or when clear and convincing evidence shows the inquiry is necessary to comply with federal law.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1994