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Earlier today, the Planning, Housing, and Parks (PHP) Committee unanimously voted to recommend passage of Bill 8-26, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Prohibition Against Price Coordination and Rent-Setting Algorithms (The Anti-Algorithmic Price Fixing Act), introduced by Councilmember Will Jawando, and cosponsored by Councilmembers Shebra Evans and Kristin Mink. The committee unanimously amended the bill to be consistent with the City of Rockville’s similar law that was recently passed. Bill 8-26 will be voted on by the full Council later this fall.
This bill follows significant litigation regarding this issue of algorithmic price-fixing at the national and state level. Jurisdictions around the country are grappling with how to protect residents from collusion in the rental housing market that results in higher rent and unfair rental terms for residents.
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Councilmember Jawando said, “I am thankful to my colleagues for unanimously supporting the passage of this important bill for our County. We have heard overwhelming support from residents for this bill because it is directly related to increasing affordability in the rental housing market by banning algorithmic collusion that results in higher rent for residents. Passing this bill is one tangible way of addressing resident concerns regarding housing affordability. I look forward to the full Council vote on the bill.”
Councilmember Jawando elaborated, “We have the responsibility to protect residents against this unfair practice. That work is happening around the state, with Attorney General Anthony Brown engaged in litigation on this issue and state legislators attempting to pass a similar bill in previous years. Our colleagues in Rockville provided us with a powerful model this summer by becoming the first city in Maryland to ban this practice. And, earlier this month, I was pleased that Governor Wes Moore included stopping algorithmic rent collusion as a core issue in his proposed AI Framework. We are moving in a positive direction in Maryland, and this bill is an important part of that effort.”
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