H.B. 1529 - Relating to Housing

• Prohibits discrimination against veterans who use HUD-VASH (Housing and Urban Development and Department of Veterans Affairs supportive housing) vouchers in rental transactions, including refusal to rent, discriminatory terms, or steering away from properties.

• Voids any restrictive covenants, conditions, or provisions in rental agreements that forbid or limit occupancy based on a veteran's use of housing assistance vouchers.

• Prohibits "blockbusting" practices where landlords or agents represent that neighborhood composition changes or property value declines will result from veteran voucher holders moving into the area.

• Prohibits retaliation, intimidation, threatening, or discriminatory statements in advertisements, applications, or records related to rental transactions based on veteran voucher status.

• Allows landlords to verify income sources and evaluate creditworthiness of potential renters in a commercially reasonable manner, effective July 1, 2017.