Relating to immigration status discrimination in real estate transactions; and declaring an emergency.

Stronger housing protections for immigrant renters

These Oregon rental protections begin 30 days after the law takes effect; the emergency clause makes the law effective upon passage. Landlords cannot discriminate against applicants, tenants, or household members because of actual or perceived immigration or citizenship status. They also cannot ask about that status. When checking identity, landlords must accept documents that reasonably verify an applicant’s name, birth date, and appearance. Options include Social Security cards or number evidence, certified birth records, green cards, visas, and individual taxpayer identification number cards. Passports, driver licenses, and other government identification qualify even when expired, as does nongovernment identification or a combination that reasonably verifies identity. Applicants who agree to provide allowed identification cannot be required to supply a Social Security number or prove lawful presence. These discrimination, inquiry, and identification rules have exceptions when federal rent-subsidy or affordable-rent programs require otherwise. Landlords also cannot disclose or threaten to disclose someone’s status to harass, retaliate against, or intimidate them. Such disclosure violations carry existing landlord-tenant and civil rights legal remedies.