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Oregon bill would bar landlords from sharing tenants' sensitive data without consent
Summary
House bill 4123 would codify confidentiality for specified tenant records held by landlords, allow narrow exemptions for business and legal needs, and create a penalty for knowing disclosures; advocates say it protects survivors and vulnerable renters while landlords welcome clearer guidance.
Representative Pam Marsh introduced House Bill 4123 on Feb. 5, telling the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness the bill responds to inconsistent practices and risks from unsecured tenant records.
The measure would make specified categories of tenant information confidential unless the tenant gives written consent or a court order requires disclosure, while preserving exemptions for necessary business uses such as background and credit checks, debt collection and compliance with funding rules. "The aim of this legislation is not to limit the information that landlords can request... The bill focuses on specific private information prohibiting a landlord or property manager from disclosing this information unless presented with a court order," Marsh told the committee.
Sybil Hebb of the Oregon Law Center, who outlined the bill, said the package includes a dash-1 amendment reflecting recent stakeholder agreement and that the statute would be narrowly tailored. "The general rule is that there will be confidentiality for this information and there will be exemptions that ensure that landlords can continue to do business uninterrupted," Hebb said. Hebb added the bill creates a penalty tied to a knowing disclosure equal to two months' rent.
Advocates described real harms when landlords disclosed sensitive information. Melissa Erlbaum of Clackamas Women's Services recounted a case where a landlord disclosed a survivor's workplace and the abusive partner subsequently appeared there; she urged the committee to adopt the bill to reduce risks to survivors. "For many survivors, safe and stable housing is the single most important factor whether they can leave abuse and remain safe," Erlbaum said.
Supporters that testified included Latino Network, AARP Oregon, Pecun (Oregon's Farmworker Union), Housing Oregon, tenant organizations and providers of affordable housing. Several affordable-housing and landlord groups — including Multifamily Northwest, Housing Oregon and the Rental Housing Alliance — said they welcome clear statutory guidance and praised the dash-1 amendment for narrowing the scope of prohibited disclosures.
Committee members asked clarifying questions during the public-comment period; no formal vote occurred that day. Chair Marsh closed the HB 4123 public hearing and moved to the next item; the bill remains pending before the committee for further consideration.
Ending: The public record for the hearing was left open as the committee proceeds; committee staff may file a dash-1 amendment prior to any subsequent vote.
