An Act to Prohibit Housing Discrimination
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0847
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: GOLEK, TALBOT ROSS
Amends: 5 MRSA §4581-A

Legislative Document
No. 847
H.P. 533
House of Representatives, March 4, 2025
An Act to Prohibit Housing Discrimination
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GOLEK of Harpswell.
Cosponsored by Senator TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland and
Representatives: DEBRITO of Waterville, GERE of Kennebunkport, MALON of Biddeford, 
MILLIKEN of Blue Hill, RANA of Bangor, ROEDER of Bangor, YUSUF of Portland, 
Senator: BENNETT of Oxford.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §4581-A, sub-§3, ¶B, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §10 and 
c. 476, §3, is further 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 or gender identity, physical 
or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous 
actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, section 4007; 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.;
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §4581-A, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Discrimination based on source of income.  Beginning January 1, 2026, 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 refuse to rent or negotiate for 
the rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a housing accommodation to any 
person because of the source of the person's money or other income as long as the money 
or other income is lawfully obtained and is verifiable as paid to the person, to another 
person on the person's behalf or to a representative of the person such as a representative 
payee appointed by the United States Social Security Administration.  Examples of 
lawfully obtained money or other income include, but are not limited to:
A.  Money or other income from a federal, state or local public assistance program, 
such as rental vouchers or rental assistance, paid directly to the person, to a family 
member of the person or to a landlord on behalf of the person;
B.  Money or other income from a nongovernmental organization paid directly to the 
person, to a family member of the person or to a landlord on behalf of the person; or
C.  Benefits received from the United States Social Security Administration or United 
States Railroad Retirement Board.
This subsection does not apply to an owner of fewer than 4 residential dwelling units held 
for rental purposes.
In addition to any civil remedies available under this chapter, a person aggrieved by a 
violation of this subsection may bring an action under section 213.  In addition to the relief 
available under section 213, a person aggrieved by a violation of this subsection is entitled 
to a monetary penalty of $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater; or
Sec. 4.  5 MRSA §4581-A, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  Discrimination based on financial assessment disregarding amount of housing 
subsidy.  Beginning January 1, 2026, 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 assess a person's financial ability to pay the entire rental amount when a 
portion of the rental amount is subsidized through federal, state or local housing assistance.  
The financial assessment may apply only to the portion of the rental amount not subsidized 
through housing assistance.
In addition to any civil remedies available under this chapter, a person aggrieved by a 
violation of this subsection may bring an action under section 213.  In addition to the relief 
available under section 213, a person aggrieved by a violation of this subsection is entitled 
to a monetary penalty of $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater.
Sec. 5.  Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.
SUMMARY
This bill makes it a form of housing discrimination under the Maine Human Rights Act 
to refuse to rent or negotiate for the rental of a housing accommodation because of a 
person's source of money or other income. The bill also establishes, as a form of housing 
discrimination, assessing a person's ability to pay the entire rental amount when a portion 
of the rent is subsidized through federal, state or local housing assistance.  In addition to 
any civil remedies available under the fair housing laws, a person aggrieved by a violation 
of these provisions is entitled to private remedies as an unfair trade practice as well as a 
monetary penalty of $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater. These provisions take 
effect January 1, 2026.