The bill amends the "Residential Landlord and Tenant Act" to enhance tenant protections against retaliatory actions by landlords. It explicitly prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants for reporting health and safety violations, participating in tenant organizations, or exercising their lawful rights. If a landlord retaliates, tenants are entitled to remedies, and a presumption of retaliation is established if a complaint was made within six months prior to the alleged act. However, the bill clarifies that landlords can still pursue possession under certain conditions, such as tenant negligence or non-payment of rent, and it removes the requirement for municipalities to meet relocation requirements in these cases.

Additionally, the bill establishes a statewide mandatory rental registry for landlords of residential properties built before 1978, requiring them to register specific information with the Department of Health, including contact details and compliance certificates. A non-public online database will be created for this information, accessible to tenants and relevant governmental agencies. The bill also introduces a "rental registry account" within the Department of Health for penalties collected, which will fund lead hazard mitigation and related efforts. Notably, penalties will not be levied until October 1, 2024, and previous compliance requirements for landlords before eviction actions are removed. The bill aims to support landlords by allowing free registration for lead hazard mitigation and ensuring the Department of Health does not impose additional burdens beyond what is specified in the law.