Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S994 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1607 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 994
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Cindy F. Friedman
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act prohibiting algorithmic rent setting.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Cindy F. FriedmanFourth MiddlesexJulian CyrCape and Islands2/13/2025 1 of 3
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1607 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 994
18	18	By Ms. Friedman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 994) of Cindy F. Friedman and
19	19	Julian Cyr for legislation to prohibit algorithmic rent setting. Housing.
20	20	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
21	21	_______________
22	22	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
23	23	(2025-2026)
24	24	_______________
25	25	An Act prohibiting algorithmic rent setting.
26	26	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
27	27	of the same, as follows:
28	28	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 186 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
29	29	2following section:-
30	30	3 Section 15G. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following
31	31	4meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
32	32	5 "Algorithmic device", any computational process, including a computational process
33	33	6derived from machine learning or other artificial intelligence techniques, that processes or
34	34	7calculates nonpublic competitor data for the purpose of advising a lessor or landlord concerning
35	35	8the amount of rent that the lessor or landlord may consider charging a tenant; provided, however
36	36	9that "algorithmic device" shall not include: (i) any report published periodically, but not more
37	37	10frequently than monthly, by a trade association that receives renter data and publishes it in an
38	38	11aggregated and anonymous matter; or (ii) a product used for the purpose of establishing rent or 2 of 3
39	39	12income limits in accordance with the affordable housing program guidelines of a local
40	40	13government, the commonwealth, the federal government or other political subdivision.
41	41	14 “Coordinating function”, any action that includes: (i) collecting historical or
42	42	15contemporaneous prices, supply levels or lease or rental contract termination and renewal dates
43	43	16of residential dwelling units from two or more rental property lessors or landlords; (ii) analyzing
44	44	17or processing of historical or contemporaneous prices, supply levels or lease or rental contract
45	45	18termination and renewal dates of residential dwelling units from two or more rental property
46	46	19lessors or landlords through use of a system, software or process that uses computation,
47	47	20including by using the information to train an algorithm; and (iii) recommending rental prices,
48	48	21lease renewal terms or ideal occupancy levels to a rental property lessor or landlord.
49	49	22 "Coordinator", any person who operates an algorithmic device, software or data analytics
50	50	23service that performs a coordinating function for any residential rental property lessor or
51	51	24landlord, including a residential rental property lessor or landlord performing a coordinating
52	52	25function for their own benefit.
53	53	26 "Nonpublic competitor data", information that is not widely available or easily accessible
54	54	27to the public, including information about actual rent prices, occupancy rates, lease start and end
55	55	28dates, and similar data, regardless of whether the data are attributable to a specific competitor or
56	56	29anonymized, and that is derived from or otherwise provided by another person that competes in
57	57	30the same market as a person, or a related market.
58	58	31 “Person”, any natural person or persons, or any corporation, partnership, company, trust
59	59	32or association of persons. 3 of 3
60	60	33 "Residential Dwelling Unit", any house, apartment, accessory unit or other unit intended
61	61	34to be used as a primary residence in the state.
62	62	35 (b) In setting the amount of rent to be charged to a tenant for the occupancy of a
63	63	36residential dwelling unit, determining any change in the amount of rent to be charged to a tenant
64	64	37for the renewed occupancy of a residential dwelling unit, or otherwise determining what amount
65	65	38to charge a tenant to rent a residential dwelling unit, or determining occupancy levels of
66	66	39residential dwelling units, no lessor or landlord shall employ, use or rely upon an algorithmic
67	67	40device or coordinator.
68	68	41 (c) A violation of this section shall constitute a violation of section 2 of Chapter 93A.
69	69	42 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage.