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Bill

H 389

An act relating to restricting the use of artificial intelligence to affect rental housing pricing and availability

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Monique Priestley

H.389 aims to curb AI-enabled collusion and manipulation in Vermont rental markets by preventing AI-driven distortions in pricing and availability.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 389

Overview

H.389, introduced in the Vermont House (Session 2025-2026) by Rep. Monique Priestley of Bradford, seeks to restrict the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to influence rental housing pricing and availability. The bill emphasizes preventing collusion and the manipulation of rental markets through AI tools.

Purpose and Intent

  • Prohibits or limits actions by individuals or entities that utilize AI to influence the price and supply of rental housing.
  • Aims to protect consumers and ensure fair access to rental housing by preventing AI-enabled price fixing or artificial manipulation of rental availability.

Key Provisions (as introduced)

  • The bill text itself is not fully included in the short form, but the stated purpose centers on:
    • Restricting collusion among parties that use AI to affect rental housing pricing.
    • Preventing AI-driven manipulation of rental supply and pricing dynamics.
  • Scope covers actions related to rental housing markets (pricing and availability) rather than all forms of AI use.
  • Likely targeting coordination among landlords, property managers, brokers, or other market participants that could be facilitated by AI tools.

Note: Since the full statutory text is not provided in the short form, the precise definitions, prohibited activities, penalties, enforcement mechanisms, and any exemptions are not enumerated here. The substantive prohibitions and remedies would be detailed in the full bill language.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Landlords, property managers, rental housing developers, and other market participants who use AI tools to set or influence rental prices or to manipulate vacancy or availability.
  • Potentially, third-party service providers (e.g., AI software vendors, data analytics firms) that assist in AI-driven pricing or allocation strategies, depending on statutory definitions.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on February 26, 2025.
  • Committee: House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development is the initial point of review.
  • Current action history shows no further committee activity recorded in the provided data, indicating early-stage introduction.

Practical Implications

  • If enacted, the bill would add a regulatory framework to deter AI-enabled price fixing or collusion in the rental housing market.
  • It could require licensure, reporting, or compliance measures for entities using AI in rental pricing decisions.
  • Enforcement could involve penalties for violations and a mechanism for investigations, though specifics are not available in the short form.

Summary

H.389 proposes to curb AI-enabled collusion and manipulation within Vermont’s rental housing market, focusing on preventing AI-driven distortions in pricing and availability. The bill is in early stages, having been referred to the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, with detailed provisions pending full text.

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

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