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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4021 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1994
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Priscila S. Sousa and Manny Cruz
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act protecting tenants from retaliation and coercion.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Priscila S. Sousa6th Middlesex1/17/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex1/17/2025Carlos González10th Hampden2/24/2025 1 of 3
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4021 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1994
By Representatives Sousa of Framingham and Cruz of Salem, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 1994) of Priscila S. Sousa, Manny Cruz and Carlos González relative to protecting
tenants from retaliation and coercion by threat of disclosing immigration status. The Judiciary.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act protecting tenants from retaliation and coercion.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 4 of chapter 151B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after subsection 4A the following:-
3 4B: Except as otherwise provided in this section, a landlord shall not:
4 (1)Unless required by law or court order, threaten to disclose or actually disclose
5information regarding or relating to the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant to any
6person, entity, or any immigration or citizenship status of a tenant to any person, entity, or any
7immigration or law enforcement agency with the intent of harassing or intimidating the tenant,
8retaliation against the tenant for exercising his or her rights, or influencing the tenant to surrender
9possession; or
10 (2)Unless required by law or court order, bring an action to recover possession of a
11dwelling unit based solely or in part on the immigration or citizenship status of a tenant. 2 of 3
12 This section does not prohibit:
13 (3)A landlord from complying with any legal obligation under federal, state or local
14law, including, but not limited to, any legal obligation under any government program that
15provides for rent limitations or rental assistance to a qualified tenant or a subpoena, warrant, or
16other court order.
17 (4)A landlord from requesting information or documentation necessary to determine
18or verify the financial qualifications of a prospective tenant.
19 (5)A landlord from delivering to the tenant an oral or written notice regarding
20conduct by the tenant that violates, may violate, or has violated an applicable rental agreement,
21including the lease or any, rule, regulation, or law.
22 This section does not enlarge or diminish a landlord’s right to terminate a tenancy
23pursuant to existing state or local law, nor does this act enlarge or diminish the ability of a unit of
24local government to regulate or enforce a prohibition against a landlord’s harassment of a tenant.
25 Nothing in this section prevents a landlord from seeking to collect rent due under this
26lease agreement.
27 If a landlord engages in prohibited conduct described in subsections (1) and (2) of section
284B against a tenant, the tenant may bring a civil action to seek any one or more of the following
29remedies:
30 (6)actual damages, as reasonably determined by the court, for injury or loss suffered;
31 (7)a civil penalty in the amount not to exceed $2,000 for each violation, payable to
32the tenant; 3 of 3
33 (8)reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs; and
34 (9)other equitable relief as the court may deem appropriate and just.
35 The immigration or citizenship status of any person is irrelevant to any issue of liability
36or remedy in a civil action involving a tenant’s housing rights. In proceedings or discovery
37undertaken in a civil action involving a tenant’s housing rights. In proceedings or discovery
38undertaken in a civil action involving a tenant’s housing rights, no inquiry shall be permitted into
39the tenant’s immigration or citizenship status, except if:
40 (10)the claims or defenses raised by the tenant place the person’s immigration or
41citizenship status directly in contention; or
42 (11)the person seeking to make the inquiry demonstrates by clear and convincing
43evidence that the inquiry is necessary in order to comply with the federal law.