Bill > H970

This bill aims to prevent algorithmic rent fixing in North Carolina's rental housing market by establishing new legal restrictions on how rental property owners and service providers can use data and pricing algorithms. The legislation defines key terms such as "coordinating function" (which includes collecting historical pricing data, analyzing that data through computational methods, recommending rental prices, and using pricing algorithms trained on non-public competitor data), "nonpublic competitor data" (confidential market information), and "pricing algorithm" (computational processes that analyze data to recommend or set prices). The bill makes it unlawful for real estate lessors or their agents to pay for or exchange value for coordinating functions, and prohibits service providers from facilitating anti-competitive agreements among rental property owners. Violations are treated as unfair trade practices, allowing aggrieved parties to bring legal action and seek relief under existing state consumer protection laws, with the Attorney General empowered to enforce the statute. Importantly, the bill also invalidates pre-dispute arbitration agreements or joint-action waivers related to potential violations, ensuring that individuals can pursue legal remedies. The law is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and will apply to acts occurring on or after that date, giving the rental market time to adapt to the new regulations.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H970