MaineMaine law limits when landlords can share renters’ personal information
Maine law limits some landlord disclosures of renters’ personal information and lets affected people seek damages and a court order when a disclosure breaks those rules.
What it does
Landlords and people acting for them may not share covered personal information without consent when they intend to harass, intimidate, or push someone out outside court and lack a legitimate business reason. Several exceptions allow disclosure.
A person whose information is disclosed in violation of the law may seek at least $1,000 or actual damages, and a court order to stop repeat disclosures. After winning a contested hearing, they may also recover reasonable attorney’s fees.
Argument forRenters may seek damages and a court order to stop repeat disclosures when a landlord shares their information to pressure them to leave.
Argument againstLandlords may find it harder to share renters’ information for routine needs because the law limits disclosure, even though it lists several exceptions.
More detail
A landlord, the landlord’s agent, or someone acting for the landlord may not disclose covered personal information without express consent when the stated intent and lack of business purpose apply. The rule covers identifying, sensitive personal, government ID, financial, and crime-victim information about tenants, prospective tenants, and occupants of rental properties the landlord owns or manages. The disclosure must be intended to harass, intimidate, or make someone leave outside the court process, and must lack a legitimate business purpose. Exceptions allow certain disclosures for legal proceedings or investigations, urgent law enforcement needs, property sales or refinancing, affordable housing programs, and municipal safety or code requests.
A person whose personal information is disclosed in violation of the section may seek actual damages or $1,000, whichever is greater, and a court order to prevent repeat disclosures. This applies to tenants, prospective tenants, occupants, and prospective occupants whose personal information was disclosed. A person may recover reasonable attorney’s fees if they obtain a judgment after a contested hearing.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 22Became Law without Governor's SignatureLatest
- Apr 8PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Enactment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 8(Yeas 75 - Nays 73 - Absent 2 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)
- Apr 8ROLL CALL NO. 763
- Apr 8PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Apr 8In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 8The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-640).Minor
- Apr 8Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Apr 8Committee Amendment "A" (S-640) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 8The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Apr 8(Yeas 76 - Nays 73 - Absent 1 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)
- Apr 8ROLL CALL NO. 761
- Apr 8On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
- Apr 8Reports READ.
- Apr 7Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
- Vote recorded ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 7Sent down for concurrence.
- Apr 7Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-640)Minor
- Apr 7Committee Amendment "A" (S-640) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 7READ ONCEMinor
- Apr 7Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 901 Yeas 20 - Nays 14 - Excused 1 - Absent 0
- Apr 7On motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED.
- Apr 7Reports READ.
- Mar 19Voted - Divided Report
- Mar 19Work Session Reconsidered
- Mar 18Voted - Divided Report
- Mar 18Work Session Held
- Jan 27In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jan 27The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.Minor
- Jan 27Committee on JUDICIARY suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on JUDICIARY Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrenceIntroduced
Housing