In Oregon MHCs, non-payment of utilities is not grounds for a "nonpayment of rent" eviction. Instead, it is treated as a violation of the rental agreement, which allows for a "for-cause" termination. 

HB 4123 (2026) – Overview

Definition of Confidential Information

The bill defines “confidential information” to include the following:

• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Phone number
• Email address
• Banking information
• Tax returns
• W-2 statements
• Sources of income or financial assistance
• Immigration or citizenship status
• Membership in a protected class
• Records related to the assertion of domestic violence allegations
• Medical records or records related to a disability

Restrictions on Disclosure

Landlords are prohibited from disclosing confidential information related to a tenant, former tenant, applicant, or any member of a tenant’s, former tenant’s, or applicant’s household.

Exceptions to the Disclosure Prohibition

There are several exceptions where disclosure is permitted:

1. With the consent of the individual
2. When required by a court order, judicial warrant, or subpoena (but not an administrative warrant or subpoena)
3. As necessary to communicate with grantors, auditors, or third-party preparers to ensure compliance with federal, state, or local government affordable housing regulations
4. As necessary to conduct background or credit checks
5. To share phone numbers or emails for repair or maintenance issues
6. For reference requests
7. As necessary for use by a landlord in an insurance claim, collection matter, or administrative or court action

Penalties for Violations

A “knowing” violation of these restrictions results in a penalty equal to twice the monthly rent.

SB 1523 (2026) – Tenant Portal Legislation Overview

Definition of Tenant Portal

A “tenant portal” is defined as any electronic application, software, website, or digital platform provided by or on behalf of a landlord that a tenant, applicant, or prospective applicant uses in connection with applying for, establishing, maintaining, or terminating a tenancy. However, this does not include communications with the landlord or the landlord’s agent via email or text message.

Landlord Requirements for Tenant Portals

• If a landlord uses a tenant portal to accept applications, the landlord must post a printable copy of the application on the landlord’s website or, within seven days of receiving a written request from a prospective applicant, provide a printed or printable copy of the application by mail or electronic mail.
• Landlords must process all applications, whether they are received through the tenant portal or by other means.
• If an applicant or tenant requests an alternative in writing, the landlord may not require the use of a tenant portal as the sole means to verify identification, review and sign addenda or other legal agreements, or submit documents related to the tenancy.

Payment Methods and Fees

• Landlords must allow tenants to make payments by check or other commercially reasonable methods, such as money orders.
• Landlords may not require tenants to make payments exclusively by debit card, credit card, ACH, tenant portal, or similar electronic means. These options can be offered but not mandated.
• Landlords may not charge late fees or terminate a tenancy for nonpayment if they refuse to allow payment by check or money order.
• Landlords are permitted to pass through processing fees incurred from payment by credit or debit card to the tenant, provided that:
  • The payment processing company allows the fees to be passed on to the payor
  • Tenants are allowed to pay by non-electronic means
  • Records of fees passed through are made available to the tenant upon written request

Access to Common Areas

There must be a physical method of unlocking common areas that does not require use of a tenant portal.

By Shaanth Nanguneri | Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon tenants whose landlords leak confidential information such as their immigration status or medical records could soon have a pathway to collect up to twice their monthly rent as a form of recourse.

Under House Bill 4123, passed by the Oregon Senate on Monday by a 24-3 vote, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle moved to strengthen existing protections for immigrants without permanent legal status that the Legislature enacted last year. The bill now heads to Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk for final consideration.

A 2025 Oregon law already ensures that landlords may not discriminate against tenants due to their immigration status while prohibiting release of information about their citizenship with the intent to harass, retaliate against or intimidate. That also includes when a landlord threatens to release such information.

But that law didn’t establish explicit monetary compensation for individuals who are victims of discrimination, instead empowering individuals to sue in court or challenge discriminatory decisions such as an eviction based on immigration status. Affordable housing, civil rights and domestic violence survivor advocates have urged lawmakers to support HB 4123 on the grounds that renting in Oregon shouldn’t further expose vulnerable communities.

If a landlord “knowingly violates” the bill’s protections, tenants whose confidential information has been disclosed could recover compensation that equals twice the amount of their monthly rent. Protected information would also include Social Security numbers and medical or disability records.

The bill’s passage marked another rare instance of Democrats and Republicans finding common ground to increase protections for Oregonians without permanent legal immigration status. A few Republicans in the Oregon House last week raised concerns about sharing gun owners’ personal information with the federal government under a bill bolstering the rollout of the voter-approved gun control law Measure 114.

Two Republicans spoke on the floor about their support for the measure, though no Democrats publicly commented on the legislation. Sen. Dick Anderson, a Republican from Lincoln City who serves as vice chair of the Senate Committee On Housing and Development, emphasized that the bill took a “simple, common sense” approach to safeguarding Oregonians’ privacy.

“This is a balanced approach that protects tenant privacy without burdening housing providers,” he said.

Landlords would still be able to share information such as a phone number or email address for maintenance or utility services. Tigard-based Multifamily NW, a lobby group that represents landlords of nearly 300,000 rental homes in the state, praised that exemption. The group wrote in Feb. 5 testimony that the change “meaningfully reduces risk for housing providers and helps distinguish between sensitive personal information and routine operational data.”

Landlords could also release confidential information if mandated by a court order or when using a grantor or auditor for compliance with affordable housing regulations. They could also disclose such information when conducting background or credit checks. 

Oregon became the first sanctuary state in the nation in 1987, blocking law enforcement in the state from carrying out immigration enforcement activities. State law bars cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities without a court order. Democrats in this year’s short legislative session have been pushing to further codify protections for immigrants amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

- Shaanth Nanguneri, Oregon Capital Chronicle

Question. The City of Harrisburg is ending its franchise with Republic Services and will instead be contracting with the City of Junction City for garbage collection. While this change will not be implemented for a few years, we are trying to be proactive and look at all our options.  We currently have a 20-yard compactor and ten co-mingle recycle bins.  We will be changing to two 40-yard dumpsters.  The question is, are we required to offer recycling?  The recycling bins are often misused and we must remove trash and other non-recyclable items from the bins.  We are considering just eliminating the recycling bins altogether.

Issue: Time constraints may lead to insufficient documentation of interactions with prospects and residents, increasing the risk of discrimination claims. Establishing clear standard procedures that incorporate documentation requirements can help staff consistently avoid this issue.