Sen. Tanya presents S.91 with just‑cause eviction, right to counsel, tenant advocate and tenant purchase tools

Senator Tanya introduced S.91, a tenant‑rights bill the committee characterized as a compilation of recommendations from the landlord‑tenant commission and related testimony.

"This bill also creates, an ombudsman for tenant and tenants and housing," Senator Tanya said, describing what she referred to as an "office of the tenant advocate." She told the committee she left placement of that office open for further discussion and suggested potential nonprofit homes (for example, legal‑aid organizations) for the function.

Why it matters: S.91 would add several new procedural and substantive protections for renters statewide, including limits on no‑cause evictions, access to counsel in eviction proceedings, a tenant right of first refusal on building sales, a revolving loan fund to assist tenant purchases, and a rent‑stabilization mechanism tied to vacancy thresholds.

Bill highlights and committee discussion

- Just‑cause eviction and right to counsel: The bill includes a just‑cause eviction standard and a state‑supported right to representation in eviction cases. Committee members and witnesses said access to counsel often shortens court timelines because attorneys can resolve cases more quickly than pro se litigants.

- Tenant advocate/ombudsman: Senator Tanya described the proposed office as modeled on the state Health Care Advocate but tailored for tenancy issues; she did not specify which agency would host it and suggested legal aid organizations or community nonprofits as possible homes.

- Tenant/community right of first refusal and revolving loan fund: S.91 would create a process allowing tenants or community groups first opportunity to buy rental buildings that are listed for sale and would stand up a revolving loan fund to provide down‑payment assistance for cooperative purchases.

- Rent stabilization tied to vacancy rate: The bill proposes a rent‑stabilization formula similar to the mobile‑home adjustment (CPI plus one), applied while vacancy rates are below a statutory threshold. Committee members discussed whether a statewide or county‑level vacancy standard makes more sense given regional market differences.

- Eviction expungement and mediation: The bill contemplates eviction expungement after a defined period without subsequent evictions and continues interest in mediation and rental assistance approaches to prevent nonpayment evictions. Committee members noted that many households leave without formal filings when faced with no‑cause notices and that official counts understate total displacement.

Committee context and next steps

Senator Tanya and others said the landlord‑tenant commission took broad testimony but did not complete final recommendations before the committee; S.91 incorporates many commission ideas. Members asked for follow‑up testimony from the commission chair (Emily Krasner) and from judiciary and legal‑aid providers about how access to counsel and expungement thresholds have worked in other states.

The committee did not vote. Members scheduled further hearings that may include representatives from the landlord‑tenant commission, judiciary staff, and tenant and landlord advocates to refine thresholds, define the proposed tenant advocate office, and consider geographic differences for rent stabilization.

Ending

Senator Tanya asked the committee to consider the bill as a package drawn from commission testimony and other state examples. Committee members emphasized they would need more time, data and invited witnesses to clarify administrative models, vacancy thresholds, and eviction‑record expungement mechanics before drafting final language.