Housing Committee members passed additional tenant protections for 海角换妻 renters Thursday, despite opposition from Republicans who said the bills violate property rights and discriminate against landlords in a manner similar to discrimination based on race or gender.
During a meeting that spanned eight hours, members voted along party lines to approve bills that would largely end evictions that occur when leases expire, limit consideration of certain criminal records when deciding whether to rent to someone, and require 60-day notice of rent increases.
鈥淧art of the reason that we鈥檙e here today is because we have to protect people,鈥� said committee co-chair Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport. 鈥淚n my opinion, I need to be able to protect people who have to deal with bad landlords, who don鈥檛 have the wherewithal, who don鈥檛 know their rights.鈥�
Many of Thursday鈥檚 arguments were familiar to the Housing Committee. Republicans tend to want smaller government and speak about the value of property rights. Democrats say the industry needs regulation because tenants are living in sub-par housing conditions and facing high rates of eviction.
Ranking member Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott, spoke at length about his opposition to the bills, at times likening landlords鈥� situation to that of groups that have faced race- and gender-based discrimination.
鈥淚 worry that when people see other folks doing well, there is less desire to emulate hard work and achievement and more desire to tear those people down and say, 鈥楾hey don鈥檛 deserve it, that was given to them,鈥欌�� said Sampson, who is a landlord. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to get into a bunch of cruddy politics and people talking about things like white privilege and stuff like that. But, I mean, that鈥檚 what that is for me. That鈥檚 all racism.鈥�
He added that he didn鈥檛 want to put people into boxes and categories.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been bad since the very first day that anyone judged anyone based on the color of their skin,鈥� Sampson said. 鈥淭hat was wrong the first day it happened. It鈥檚 still wrong today, and it doesn鈥檛 matter who鈥檚 doing it to who. And I don鈥檛 like to see legislation that goes down that road.鈥�
Moore said that she had considered both positions from landlords and tenants when she decided to support the legislation regarding evictions.
鈥淭he world that you describe on some of this, I have no idea where that world is,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not the world I live in and what I鈥檝e experienced in life.鈥�
She said she believes that the bill is equitable.
鈥淚f I thought this was leaning more toward one, I wouldn鈥檛 sit here with you and stand on it,鈥� she added.
What鈥檚 in the bills
The eviction bill would require landlords to cite a cause when they evict tenants. Current law allows people to face eviction when their lease expires. 海角换妻 already has protections against lapse-of-time evictions for senior citizens and people with disabilities.
would expand those who live in apartments with five or more units. The bill has support from tenants rights groups and housing experts, although landlord groups are opposed.
would limit landlords鈥� ability to use . Crimes that are at least three years old couldn鈥檛 be considered, except in certain circumstances.
The bill includes carve-outs for people applying to public housing who have manufactured methamphetamines in federally subsidized housing or who have a lifetime registration requirement, such as sex offenders.
People who were formerly incarcerated, justice advocates and members of the American Civil Liberties Union spoke in favor of the bill during a public hearing.
Landlords and some tenants spoke against the bill, saying that it would mean property owners have less ability to ensure a safe environment for their renters, that it could mean higher liability risk, and that it infringes on landlords鈥� rights.
would require that landlords give tenants at least 60 days notice ahead of rental increases. If they don鈥檛 issue the notice in time and raise rents, they would be prohibited from issuing a notice to quit if tenants refuse to pay.
Debate
Legislative sessions in the past couple of years have focused on ways to rethink the landlord-tenant relationship. Housing experts have identified an imbalance of power in the relationship, saying that it can be hard for tenants to push back against bad housing conditions or excessive rent increases because of the fear of eviction.
The state has seen a growing tenants union movement that has helped to organize tenants.
Thursday鈥檚 debate also occurs in the midst of a worsening national housing crisis. In 海角换妻, rents and rates of homelessness have been rising. Apartment vacancy rates are low.
The state lacks about 92,500 units of housing that are affordable and available to its lowest-income renters, .
Sampson also questioned the veracity of claims that there is a housing crisis, saying that he has available units, including one that has been on the market for three weeks.
The housing crisis has been thoroughly researched by many groups and housing experts.
鈥淭he only evidence that I have that there is a housing shortage is a lot of rhetoric and news reports and occasionally, when I do list a rental, I get a little bit more activity than I have in the past,鈥� Sampson said.
Sampson, one of the more conservative members of the Republican caucus, said he doesn鈥檛 want the government interfering in private contracts. He fears the bills violate property rights.
鈥淚 also think this is somewhat un-American because I think it does go against our free market principles and instead imposes authoritarian rule that eliminates freedom of choice,鈥� he said.
Other Republicans also spoke against the bills, and the House Republicans issued statements at the close of the meeting Thursday night.
鈥淎 lease is a contract, agreed to by both the landlord and the tenant, and each party knows there is a set end date,鈥� said ranking member Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe, in a statement. 鈥淭he government shouldn鈥檛 be interfering with this basic business function.鈥�
Co-chair Rep. Antonio Felipe, D-Bridgeport, spoke in favor of the criminal record bill Thursday.
鈥淭hese are people like everybody else, and we鈥檙e all different,鈥� Felipe said. 鈥淲e all have different varying levels of education, and the way that we look at recidivism also needs to be brought into a different lens.鈥�
He said that recidivism can often be reduced with job opportunities, housing, mental health support systems and education. Research has tied a high risk of reoffending to a lack of housing stability.
鈥淪o while we move forward, I just hope that we treat people fairly and equitably,鈥� Felipe said.
Scott said he was concerned about how the criminal record law would be enforced.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always a lot of work to do,鈥� Felipe said near the close of Thursday鈥檚 meeting. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to disagree on the various things that we need to do.鈥�
The bills next head to either the House or Senate floors.
This story was originally Feb. 29, 2024.