2026 Landlord-Tenant Legislation Tracker

CPI + 5% (capped at 10%) annual rent increase limit on units 15+ years old; just-cause termination required after 12 months tenancy. Sunsets January 1, 2030.

CPI + 7% cap on annual rent increases. HB-2001 (2023) added termination-with-cause requirement for tenancies over 12 months. Includes relocation assistance.

7% maximum annual rent increase plus statewide just-cause framework. Effective 2024 with phased implementation.

Good Cause framework caps annual rent increases at the greater of 5% + CPI or 10%, with landlord burden to prove cause for non-renewal. NYC effective April 2024. Municipalities can opt in.

No statewide cap, but ~100 municipalities have local rent control (Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, Elizabeth, Paterson, etc.) with varying CPI-tied caps.

Takoma Park, Mt. Rainier, Hyattsville, and Montgomery County operate active rent stabilization. State preemption debated.

Would allow Massachusetts municipalities to enact local rent control for the first time since the 1994 statewide ban. Advancing through committee in 2026 session.

St. Paul has 3% cap (adjusted by referendum); Minneapolis enabling-charter passed. Various amendments under consideration in 2026.

HB24-1115 (and 2026 successor) would lift the state preemption barring municipal rent control. Failed in 2024, refiled.

Proposed expansion of New Jersey's existing just-cause requirements to all rental properties (currently exempts owner-occupied 2-4 unit buildings).

Would establish statewide just-cause termination requirement. Combined with right-to-counsel legislation.

Would establish just-cause termination requirement for Chicago-metro counties. State preemption complications.

Connecticut applies just-cause requirements to age-restricted housing and tenancies over a year, with full statewide expansion proposed in 2026.

Effective July 1, 2024: security deposits capped at 1 month rent statewide, down from 2 months. Owner-occupied 2-unit owners may still charge 2 months.

OR caps deposits at 1.5x monthly rent; 31-day return deadline; itemized statement required.

Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (2019): deposits capped at 1 month rent statewide. Late-fee limits, fee caps.

21-day return deadline with itemized statement required. Penalty 2x deposit for non-compliance.

Source-of-income discrimination prohibited statewide. Section 8 vouchers, VA benefits, child support cannot be basis for refusal.

NY State Human Rights Law adds source of income as protected class. NYC has stricter local enforcement.

Massachusetts prohibits SOI discrimination statewide including for rental housing programs.

Source of income protected statewide under ORS 659A.421.

Refusal to accept Section 8 or other lawful income illegal statewide.

New Jersey Law Against Discrimination prohibits SOI discrimination.

Statewide as of October 2020. Source-of-income discrimination prohibited.

Statewide Human Rights Act amendment, plus stronger Chicago and Cook County local ordinances.

Eviction records sealed by default for first 60 days; case-by-case sealing thereafter when tenant prevails.

Tenant can petition for expungement of eviction records under defined circumstances.

Default sealing for cases dismissed or where tenant prevailed; petition process for others.

Comprehensive eviction record sealing framework for dismissed or favorable-outcome cases.

Statewide eviction record sealing for dismissed cases. Advanced through committee 2025.

Mandatory pre-filing mediation for non-payment cases in Philadelphia. Statewide expansion proposed.

Pre-filing diversion required in 36th District Court (Detroit). Pilot expansion to other Michigan districts.

Statewide framework for diversion of non-payment cases through community mediation centers.

Voluntary diversion program in Travis County. Texas legislature considering statewide expansion.