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SB 282

An Act making appropriations from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund and from the PSERS Defined Contribution Fund to provide for expenses of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Vincent Hughes

Gives residential tenants a statutory right to form tenant unions and protect organizers from landlord retaliation, enabling canvassing, meetings, and collective action.

Referred to Appropriations
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Bill Summary · SB 282

SB 282 — Tenants’ Right to Organize Act (Introduced Feb 5, 2025)

Status: Referred to Committee on Housing and Human Services

Purpose / Intent

Create a statutory right for residential tenants to organize tenant unions and to protect tenants and tenant organizers from landlord interference or retaliation for union-related activities. The bill clarifies permitted organizing activities, establishes canvassing rules for organizers, and provides civil remedies and penalties for violations.

Key definitions (selected)

  • Tenant union: a tenant-organized body that can self‑organize, meet, appoint representatives, negotiate with a landlord, promulgate rules, and engage in concerted activity for mutual aid and protection.
  • Tenant organizer: a person who assists tenants to organize who is not an employee/representative of the landlord.
  • Common area, rental unit, landlord, tenant: defined consistent with landlord‑tenant law.

Main provisions

  • Tenants’ organizing rights: Tenants may form tenant unions and, in connection with that, may:

    • Distribute literature in common areas and at doors, post on bulletin boards, collect dues, and assist other tenants to participate;
    • Convene and attend tenant meetings (including permitting electronic attendance if a majority consents); meetings may be held in common areas or tenant units (with consent).
    • Propose changes to premises, respond collectively to rent increases, and engage in other concerted activities related to union operation.

  • Tenant organizer access and canvassing:

    • Organizers may canvass multifamily properties. If the property has a written canvassing policy that allows canvassing, organizers have the same access as other uninvited outside parties.
    • If the property lacks a consistently enforced written anti‑canvass policy, it is treated as allowing canvassing.
    • If the property has a consistently enforced written anti‑canvass policy, organizers who are not tenants may canvass only when accompanied by a tenant; in that circumstance they have the same access rights as invited outside parties.

  • Landlord prohibitions:

    • Landlords may not interfere with organizing rights or retaliate (examples listed include delaying maintenance, revoking amenities access, or taking frivolous adverse actions).
    • Landlords may not obstruct investigations or enforcement of this act.

Enforcement & Remedies

  • Who may sue: the Attorney General, a tenant, or a tenant organizer may bring an action in court.
  • Remedies for landlord violations include:
    • Civil fine up to $1,000 per violation;
    • Injunctive relief;
    • Reasonable attorney’s fees.

Who is affected

  • Tenants in residential rental units and multifamily developments;
  • Landlords, property managers, on‑site staff;
  • Third‑party tenant organizers and community groups.

Procedural / Timeline notes

  • Introduced Feb 5, 2025; currently referred to the House/Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services for hearing and markup (per bill header).
  • If enacted, the act would take effect on the date specified in final language (not provided in the version reviewed).

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Strengthens tenant organizing and collective voice in landlord‑tenant matters.
  • Imposes new compliance obligations on landlords (policies, staff training, and potential litigation exposure).
  • May reduce retaliatory conduct and barriers to tenant advocacy, while raising landlord concerns about access, security, and noise — matters that may be addressed in committee debate or implementing regulations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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