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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1607 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 994
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Cindy F. Friedman
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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 prohibiting algorithmic rent setting.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Cindy F. FriedmanFourth MiddlesexJulian CyrCape and Islands2/13/2025 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1607 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 994
By Ms. Friedman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 994) of Cindy F. Friedman and
Julian Cyr for legislation to prohibit algorithmic rent setting. Housing.
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 prohibiting algorithmic rent setting.
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. Chapter 186 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
2following section:-
3 Section 15G. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
4meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
5 "Algorithmic device", any computational process, including a computational process
6derived from machine learning or other artificial intelligence techniques, that processes or
7calculates nonpublic competitor data for the purpose of advising a lessor or landlord concerning
8the amount of rent that the lessor or landlord may consider charging a tenant; provided, however
9that "algorithmic device" shall not include: (i) any report published periodically, but not more
10frequently than monthly, by a trade association that receives renter data and publishes it in an
11aggregated and anonymous matter; or (ii) a product used for the purpose of establishing rent or 2 of 3
12income limits in accordance with the affordable housing program guidelines of a local
13government, the commonwealth, the federal government or other political subdivision.
14 “Coordinating function”, any action that includes: (i) collecting historical or
15contemporaneous prices, supply levels or lease or rental contract termination and renewal dates
16of residential dwelling units from two or more rental property lessors or landlords; (ii) analyzing
17or processing of historical or contemporaneous prices, supply levels or lease or rental contract
18termination and renewal dates of residential dwelling units from two or more rental property
19lessors or landlords through use of a system, software or process that uses computation,
20including by using the information to train an algorithm; and (iii) recommending rental prices,
21lease renewal terms or ideal occupancy levels to a rental property lessor or landlord.
22 "Coordinator", any person who operates an algorithmic device, software or data analytics
23service that performs a coordinating function for any residential rental property lessor or
24landlord, including a residential rental property lessor or landlord performing a coordinating
25function for their own benefit.
26 "Nonpublic competitor data", information that is not widely available or easily accessible
27to the public, including information about actual rent prices, occupancy rates, lease start and end
28dates, and similar data, regardless of whether the data are attributable to a specific competitor or
29anonymized, and that is derived from or otherwise provided by another person that competes in
30the same market as a person, or a related market.
31 “Person”, any natural person or persons, or any corporation, partnership, company, trust
32or association of persons. 3 of 3
33 "Residential Dwelling Unit", any house, apartment, accessory unit or other unit intended
34to be used as a primary residence in the state.
35 (b) In setting the amount of rent to be charged to a tenant for the occupancy of a
36residential dwelling unit, determining any change in the amount of rent to be charged to a tenant
37for the renewed occupancy of a residential dwelling unit, or otherwise determining what amount
38to charge a tenant to rent a residential dwelling unit, or determining occupancy levels of
39residential dwelling units, no lessor or landlord shall employ, use or rely upon an algorithmic
40device or coordinator.
41 (c) A violation of this section shall constitute a violation of section 2 of Chapter 93A.
42 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage.