Two pieces of legislation meant to assist New Mexico’s renters were voted through the House Judiciary Committee over the holiday weekend and are now set to appear before the full House for a vote. The 60-day legislative session ends March 22.
The committee approved, with a 6-4 vote, House Bill 215, which prohibits the use of artificial intelligence to unfairly manipulate rent prices. The sponsors of the measure — Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, and Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces — said renters who are harmed by violations of the proposed policy would have the ability to seek legal recourse.
As artificial intelligence has gained momentum in recent years, some real estate companies use an algorithm based on proprietary lease information to set rent prices. The practice has been described as unethical and potentially unlawful.
“By prohibiting unfair rent manipulation that drives prices even higher, we can put the well-being of everyday New Mexicans over the profits of wealthy, out-of-state companies,” Romero said in a statement Monday.
House Bill 98, which the committee approved with a 5-4 vote, would expunge a renter’s eviction record after five years. The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Janelle Anyanonu, D-Albuquerque, and Rep. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock.
City Desk ABQ asked Anyanonu about the legislation last week.
“I know, and I think most of us know, many hardworking people who have been evicted for mild, temporary financial struggles,” Anyanonu said. “These aren’t people with a pattern of nonpayment or bad behavior. They are everyday people who hit a rough patch.”
Affordability, in general
Meanwhile, there are other bills in various stages of committee hearings that House Democrats say are part of an overall push to address affordability issues and consumer protections.
- House Bill 22 would prohibit employers from taking credit card fees out of the wages of tipped workers.
- House Bill 26 would eliminate unfair pricing by ticket resellers.
- House Bill 17 would establish a commission to study and make recommendations on how to reduce grocery store prices and improve local supply chain issues.
- House Bill 285 would prohibit grocers and retailers from using so-called dynamic pricing to gouge consumers.
- House Bill 43 and House Bill 339 would address renter discrimination.
- House Bill 186 and House Bill 263 would improve health care access and price transparency.
- House Bill 201 and House Bill 6 would raise the minimum pay for school staff and workers on publicly-supported projects.
Committee hearings and House and Senate floor sessions can be viewed here. Public comment can be provided in-person, by phone, or through Zoom as outlined on the Legislature’s daily schedule here.