Oregon Law Center proposes landlord confidentiality bill to protect tenants' sensitive data

Cybil Hebb of the Oregon Law Center briefed the committee on a legislative concept to create statutory confidentiality protections for tenant information in the Landlord‑Tenant Act.

Hebb said the draft would define a class of "personally identifying, financially sensitive, and other information" that landlords may not disclose without written tenant consent except in response to a court order, and would not apply to accidental disclosures, theft, or hacking. "The bill... adds a clear and simple provision into the Landlord Tenant Act that says personally identifying, financially sensitive, and other information may not be disclosed without written consent, unless in response to a court order," Hebb told the committee.

The concept includes narrow exemptions for routine business necessities (background checks, lender/grantor compliance) and provides a limited civil remedy equal to two months' rent for knowing violations; it does not provide for actual damages. Hebb and advocates framed the proposal as a consumer‑protection measure aimed at preventing identity theft, harassment, or harm to survivors of domestic violence.

Committee members asked how enforcement would work. Hebb said the Act generally relies on private enforcement—tenants would bring claims in court—and that the provision is intended to create a bright line that both tenants and landlords can follow.

Next steps: the Law Center will refine the draft and continue stakeholder outreach ahead of formal introduction.