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Conference committee moves to bar Social Security number requirement on rental intake forms
Summary
Lawmakers discussed language intended to prevent landlords from requiring prospective tenants to supply Social Security numbers on standard application forms and to accommodate tenants who lack a Social Security number or who prefer alternative government‑issued ID.
Conference negotiators discussed a provision intended to bar rental application forms from requiring Social Security numbers, a change the sponsors said is intended to protect immigrants and other applicants who lack or will not provide an SSN.
Negotiators described a working approach that would require a landlord’s form to accept a set of alternative identity documents rather than mandating a Social Security number. Committee members said they would draft language that prevents a form from requiring an SSN and instead lists acceptable categories of government‑issued proof of identity or eligibility.
Why it matters: Advocates for immigrant tenants said requiring an SSN creates a barrier to housing and can force people to disclose immigration status. Landlord groups said they need reliable identity and screening information, and lawmakers signaled they would try to balance those interests by specifying acceptable alternatives and avoiding subjective determinations by landlords.
What was discussed: Committee members debated whether to make the change mandatory or to require only that landlords accept multiple forms of identification. They also discussed crafting clear, objective language so landlords can update their existing forms (for example, removing a “*Social Security number” field) without adding unreasonable burdens. Members agreed to work on precise statutory wording and to consult migrant‑advocacy groups and landlord representatives.
Ending: The conference committee asked Legislative Council staff to draft statutory language for a prohibition on requiring Social Security numbers on rental application forms and to circulate that language for stakeholder input before the next session.
