The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7140, aims to enhance the proceedings of fair rent commissions by establishing clearer guidelines and requirements for their operations. It mandates that towns, cities, or boroughs with populations of 25,000 or more must create a fair rent commission to investigate and address complaints regarding rental charges, excluding seasonal rentals. The bill introduces new legal language that defines "seasonal basis" and "rental charge," and empowers the commission to conduct hearings, issue subpoenas, and retain legal counsel. Additionally, it stipulates that any hearing held by the commission will be treated as a contested case, adhering to the provisions of chapter 54, which includes maintaining a comprehensive record of the proceedings.

Furthermore, the bill requires that towns, cities, or boroughs establish these commissions by July 1, 2023, and notify the Commissioner of Housing upon creation. It also allows for the formation of joint fair rent commissions among municipalities that are not mandated to create their own. The intent of this legislation is to ensure that individuals aggrieved by commission orders have a meaningful opportunity to appeal, thereby promoting fairness and accountability in rental practices. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-148b