Immigrant Tenant Protection Act (SB1290)

• Prohibits landlords from threatening to disclose or disclosing a tenant's immigration or citizenship status to any person or immigration enforcement agency with intent to harass, intimidate, retaliate, or influence the tenant to surrender possession, unless required by law or court order

• Prohibits landlords from bringing eviction actions based solely or in part on a tenant's immigration or citizenship status, unless required by law or court order

• Establishes affirmative defenses in eviction cases if the landlord's demand for possession is based on the tenant's immigration status or failure to provide social security number, credit information, or acceptable identification after the lease has commenced

• Allows tenants to bring civil actions for violations and seek actual damages, civil penalties up to $2,000 per violation, attorney's fees, court costs, and other equitable relief

• Prohibits inquiry into a tenant's immigration or citizenship status during court proceedings or discovery in housing rights cases, except when immigration status is directly in contention or clear and convincing evidence shows inquiry is necessary to comply with federal law