A trio of renters protection bills in North Dakota was recently voted down by the Senate, despite aiming to regulate rental business practices and help prevent financial burdens on renters. Sponsored by Sen. Ryan Braunberger, the bills were intended to address the issue of renters spending more than 30% of their income on housing, leading to potential homelessness.
One of the bills, SB 2235, would have prioritized rent payments over late fees, avoiding situations where tenants struggle to make full payments due to accumulating fees. Another bill, SB 2236, sought to cap late fees at 8% of the total month’s rent to create consistency in fee structures. The third bill, SB 2237, aimed to empower the Labor Commission to address tenant complaints regarding landlord compliance.
However, the Senate voted against the bills, with some members arguing that they unnecessarily interfered with private rental agreements. Despite advocacy from groups like the ACLU and fair housing specialists, the bills failed to pass, leaving renters in North Dakota vulnerable to financial challenges in the future.
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