Rent Control Legislation Up For Consideration Around the Country

From Growing Homes Together's latest report the following anti-rental legislation has been introduced or will take effect.

• A rent control bill that would limit rent increases to four percent annually was introduced in the Rhode Island legislature on March 2nd. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. – H 7862  
  
  
• A bill was introduced in the Connecticut State Senate last week that would establish a mechanism to study potential rent control policies. A public hearing is slated this week. – S.B. No. 293 
  
  
• A measure was introduced in the Kentucky State Senate seeking to revoke statewide rent control preemption. A similar measure was previously introduced in the Kentucky House. – S.B. No. 357 
  
  
• On March 3rd, the St. Petersburg City Council in Florida unanimously supported a measure to explore ways in which the city can provide legal support for tenants facing evictions. The move comes following a failed effort to explore rent control, which was voted down in February. – Florida Politics
  
  
• On May 1st, a rent control ordinance that limits rent increases to 3% annually will take effect in St. Paul. Some aspects of the bill remain unclear, and Mayor Melvin Carter III is pushing to exempt new construction in order to encourage development in the city. – Minnesota Reformer 
  
  
• Following a lawsuit filed by the “Not In My Backyard” advocacy group Save Berkley Neighborhoods, UC Berkley has been forced to slash its enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year. The group raised concerns that the university’s failure to provide sufficient housing for its incoming students would result in new housing construction across the city. – Morning Brew 

Meanwhile, in support of rental housing:

• A pair of bills were introduced in the Georgia state legislature that would prohibit local governments from enacting any restrictions including permits, conditions, fees or amenity requirements on housing that is used or is intended for use as a long-term rental. – Appen Media