Committee hears House Bill 1217 to cap rent and fee increases at 7% and bar first-year increases; tenants and landlords testify for and against

The House Housing Committee on Jan. 13 held an extended public hearing on House Bill 1217, a proposal to limit rent and fee increases to 7 percent in any 12‑month period and to prohibit rent and fee increases during the first 12 months of a tenancy for units covered by the Residential Landlord Tenant Act and the Manufactured Mobile Home Landlord Tenant Act.

Audrey Vasek, committee staff, said the bill also lists exemptions — including newly constructed dwelling units built within the last 10 years, units operated by public housing authorities or certain nonprofit organizations, certain qualified low-income housing developments, owner‑occupied rentals, and a limited exemption following the qualified sale of a manufactured-home community. Vasek said enforcement mechanisms include attorney general enforcement under the Consumer Protection Act and a private cause of action for damages; the Department of Commerce would be required to create an online landlord resource center and to contract for an independent social-vulnerability assessment of the bill’s impacts.

Representative Emily Alvarado (34th Legislative District), the bill’s sponsor, said rising rents are…