Oregon’s New Senate Bill Shields Immigrant Tenants from Landlord Discrimination and Reprisals

Immigrants living in fear of reprisal if they complain about problems with their accommodation or are discriminated against by landlords will be protected by Senate Bill 599 if it is passed into legislation by Oregon lawmakers.

The House Committee on Judiciary paved the way on Thursday for the bill to progress to state representatives for voting and, if passed, will become effective immediately.

It Will Be Illegal for Landlords to Inquire About a Tenant’s Immigration Status

The bill makes it illegal for landlords to inquire or to be discriminatory about the immigration status of tenants and prohibits them from rejecting rental applications based on citizenship or immigration status.

Lawmakers who support SB 599 believe it will protect vulnerable tenants who face reprisals, such as threats of deportation if they complain about their living conditions, or intimidating tenants with threats to disclose their immigration status.

Here is the broader snapshot of immigrant households SB 599 is aimed at in Oregon:

The bill sets out clear guidelines on identification documents that landlords must accept when verifying identification.

Landlords Who Fail to Accept Documentation Stipulated in the Bill Will Face Legal Action

Landlords who violate these provisions will be subject to legal penalties under Oregon’s civil rights and landlord-tenant laws and will face lawsuits or legal actions by the state.

The documents that landlords must accept are: birth certificates, green cards, Social Security numbers or cards, taxpayer ID cards or numbers, driver’s licenses, passports, immigrant or non-immigrant visas, or other government identification documents, regardless of expiry dates.

Here is what SB 599 changes in day to day landlord tenant practice:

Landlords must accept any of these documents, or any combination, to verify a tenant’s date of birth, name, and physical appearance.

Two property organizations – Oregon Realtors and Multifamily NW – have adopted a neutral approach to the bill. Meanwhile, California, Illinois, New York, and Washington, have already implemented similar legislation.

Here is how SB 599 moved through the Legislature before becoming law: