A new bill filed by State Rep. Tim Longest in the North Carolina House seeks to prevent algorithmic rent fixing and promote fair rental market practices, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 970 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill aims to prevent algorithmic rent fixing in the rental housing market by amending Chapter 42 of the General Statutes to establish new regulations. It prohibits real estate lessors and their agents within North Carolina from engaging in coordination activities, such as using pricing algorithms or exchanging data for setting residential rent prices. The bill further bans service providers from facilitating non-competition agreements among lessors. Violations are treated as unfair trade practices, allowing aggrieved parties to seek relief under state statutes, and invalidates pre-dispute arbitration and joint-action waivers related to these issues. The bill takes effect on Oct. 1, 2025, applying to future actions or omissions.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Marcia Morey proposed the most bills (38) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Longest graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil in 2013 with a BA and again in 2018 from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil with a JD.
Longest, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 34th House district, replacing previous state representative Jack Nichols.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Longest, Jordan Lopez, Lindsey Prather, and Marcia Morey | HB 970 | 04/10/2025 | Preventing Algorithmic Rent Fixing. |
| Tim Longest, Allen Buansi, Harry Warren, and Zack Hawkins | HB 931 | 04/10/2025 | End Predatory Towing Fees and Practices. |
| Tim Longest, Dante Pittman, Mary Belk, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 938 | 04/10/2025 | Right to Repair Digital Electronics Act. |
| Tim Longest | HB 955 | 04/10/2025 | NC Junk Fee Prevention Act. |
| Tim Longest, Brandon Lofton, Deb Butler, and Eric Ager | HB 960 | 04/10/2025 | UI/Give Enhanced Benefits During Disasters. |
| Tim Longest and John M. Blust | HB 969 | 04/10/2025 | Study the Abolition of Contrib. Negligence. |
| Tim Longest, Allison A. Dahle, Bryan Cohn, and Pricey Harrison | HB 973 | 04/10/2025 | Uniform Restrictive Employment Agreement Act. |
| Tim Longest | HB 987 | 04/10/2025 | Create Police Leadership Fellows Program. |
| Tim Longest, Monika Johnson-Hostler, and Tracy Clark | HB 990 | 04/10/2025 | Notice Requirements for Landlord Fees. |
| Tim Longest, Cynthia Ball, Vernetta Alston, and Zack Hawkins | HB 823 | 04/08/2025 | County Service Districts/Research & URSD. |
| Tim Longest, Amber M. Baker, Brian Turner, and Julia Greenfield | HB 798 | 04/07/2025 | Expand Access to Cold Weather Shelters/Funds. |
| Tim Longest, Beth Helfrich, Brandon Lofton, and Robert T. Reives, II | HB 628 | 03/31/2025 | Reenact Child Tax Credit. |
| Tim Longest and Brandon Lofton | HB 630 | 03/31/2025 | Restore LEA Sales Tax Benefit. |
| Tim Longest, Allen Chesser, Neal Jackson, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 462 | 03/19/2025 | Personal Data Privacy/Social Media Safety. |
| Tim Longest, Carolyn G. Logan, and Mary Belk | HB 203 | 02/25/2025 | Home Warranty Act. |
| Tim Longest, Allen Buansi, Gloristine Brown, and Lindsey Prather | HB 181 | 02/24/2025 | Tax Relief for Working Families Act. |
| Tim Longest, Carolyn G. Logan, Jordan Lopez, and Marcia Morey | HB 167 | 02/21/2025 | Firearm in Unattended Vehicle/Safely Store. |
| Tim Longest, Allison A. Dahle, Erin Paré, and Monika Johnson-Hostler | HB 151 | 02/18/2025 | SchCalFlex/Wake/CC. |
| Tim Longest, Abe Jones, Marcia Morey, and Phil Rubin | HB 129 | 02/13/2025 | Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act. |
| Tim Longest, Allen Buansi, Pricey Harrison, and Renée A. Price | HB 131 | 02/13/2025 | Reenact Solar Energy Tax Credit. |
