An Act To Prohibit Discrimination in Housing Based on a Person's Participation in a Rental Assistance Program
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1180
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: COLLINGS, MIRAMANT, COPELAND, MORALES, OSHER, BALDACCI
Amends: 5 MRSA §4581-A

Legislative Document
No. 1180
H.P. 858
House of Representatives, March 22, 2021
An Act To Prohibit Discrimination in Housing Based on a Person's 
Participation in a Rental Assistance Program
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 18, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Judiciary pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative COLLINGS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator MIRAMANT of Knox and
Representatives: COPELAND of Saco, MORALES of South Portland, OSHER of Orono, 
Senator: BALDACCI of Penobscot.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §4581-A, sub-§3, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 613, §11 and 
affected by §29, is amended to read:
B.  Discriminate in the granting of financial assistance, or in the terms, conditions or 
privileges relating to obtaining or the use of any financial assistance, against any 
applicant because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, 
religion, ancestry, national origin or familial status; or
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §4581-A, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 613, §11 and affected 
by §29, is amended to read:
4.  Receipt of public assistance.  For any person furnishing rental premises or public 
accommodations to refuse to rent or impose different terms of tenancy to any individual 
who is a recipient of federal, state or local public assistance, including medical assistance 
and housing subsidies, primarily because of the individual's status as recipient.; or
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §4581-A, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Discrimination based on source of income.  For any owner, lessee, sublessee, 
managing agent or other person having the right to sell or rent or manage a housing 
accommodation, or any agent of these, to:  
A.  Refuse to rent or negotiate for the rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, 
a dwelling to any person because the person's source of income is a public assistance 
program or because of the requirements of any program providing the source of 
income; or
B.  Refuse to participate in or comply with any federal, state or local requirements of a 
tenant-based rental assistance program.
(1)  Refusing to participate or comply with any federal, state or local requirements 
of a tenant-based rental assistance program includes, but is not limited to, the 
following:
(a)  Refusing to allow inspections of a dwelling by the public housing authority 
or other entity administering a tenant-based rental assistance program;
(b)  Refusing to make reasonable repairs necessary for the dwelling to meet 
the housing quality standards of the tenant-based rental assistance program.  
Repairs are considered reasonable if they do not substantially alter or change 
the housing unit or do not require repairs substantially different from those that 
would be required to bring the rental until into compliance with the implied 
warranty of fitness for habitation as described in Title 14, section 6021 or local 
building or housing codes applicable for new construction;
(c)  Refusing to complete any paperwork required by the rental assistance 
program; and
(d)  Refusing to provide information required by the public housing authority 
or other entity administering the source of income or tenant-based rental 
assistance program.
(2)  "Tenant-based rental assistance program" means a federal, state or local 
program that provides any form of rental assistance, including but not limited to, 
vouchers and coupons, in which program participants select their appropriate 
housing.
This subsection does not apply to an owner of fewer than 4 dwellings held for rental 
purposes.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the Maine Human Rights Act to include as prohibited acts the 
discrimination against a tenant because the tenant participates in a federal, state or local 
tenant-based rental assistance program.