Maine Code § 5-4581-A

Unlawful housing discrimination
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It is unlawful housing discrimination, in violation of this Act: [PL 2011, c. 613, §11 (NEW); PL
2011, c. 613, §29 (AFF).]
1. Sale or rental of housing and other prohibited practices. For any owner, lessee, sublessee,
managing agent or other person having the right to sell or rent or manage a housing accommodation,
or any agent of these, to:
A. Make or cause to be made any written or oral inquiry concerning the race or color, sex, sexual
orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin,
familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title
19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A, section 4110 or
pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation of any prospective
purchaser, occupant or tenant of the housing accommodation; [PL 2025, c. 269, §3 (AMD).]
B. Refuse to show or refuse to sell, rent, lease, let or otherwise deny to or withhold from any person
the housing accommodation because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity,
physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin or familial status or because the
person sought and received an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final
protection order pursuant to Title 19-A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision
of the law of another state or nation; [PL 2025, c. 269, §3 (AMD).]
C. Make, print or publish or cause to be made, printed or published any notice, statement or
advertisement relating to the sale, rental or lease of the housing accommodation that indicates any
preference, limitation or discrimination based upon race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender
identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any
previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007
or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar
provision of the law of another state or nation or an intention to make any such preference,
limitation or discrimination; [PL 2025, c. 269, §3 (AMD).]
D. Discriminate against any person because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender
identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin or familial status or
because the person sought and received an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section
4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially
similar provision of the law of another state or nation in the price, terms, conditions or privileges
of the sale, rental or lease of any housing accommodations or in the furnishing of facilities or
services in connection with any housing accommodations; or [PL 2025, c. 269, §3 (AMD).]

E. Evict or attempt to evict any tenant of any housing accommodation because of the race or color,
sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national
origin or familial status of the tenant or because the tenant sought and received an order of
protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A,
section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation;
[PL 2025, c. 269, §3 (AMD).]
[PL 2025, c. 269, §3 (AMD).]
2. Selling, brokering or appraising of housing. For any real estate broker or real estate
salesperson, or any agent of these, to:
A. Fail or refuse to show any person a housing accommodation listed for sale, lease or rent because
of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion,
ancestry, national origin or familial status or because the person sought and received an order of
protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A,
section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation;
[PL 2025, c. 269, §4 (AMD).]
B. Misrepresent, for the purpose of discriminating because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation
or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status
or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19-A, former
section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A, section 4110 or pursuant to a
substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation, the availability or asking price
of a housing accommodation listed for sale, lease or rent or for such reason to fail to communicate
to the person having the right to sell, rent or lease the housing accommodation any offer for the
same made by any applicant; [PL 2025, c. 269, §4 (AMD).]
C. In any other manner to discriminate against any applicant for a housing accommodation because
of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion,
ancestry, national origin or familial status or because the applicant sought and received an order of
protection under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A,
section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation;
[PL 2025, c. 269, §4 (AMD).]
D. Make or cause to be made any written or oral inquiry or record concerning the race or color,
sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national
origin, familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under
Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A, section 4110 or
pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation of any applicant
for or intended occupant of a housing accommodation; or [PL 2025, c. 269, §4 (AMD).]
E. Accept for listing any housing accommodation when the person having the right to sell, rent or
lease the housing accommodation has directly or indirectly indicated an intention of discriminating
among prospective tenants or purchasers on the ground of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or
gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, familial status or
any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19-A, former section
4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A, section 4110 or pursuant to a substantially
similar provision of the law of another state or nation, or when the broker or salesperson knows or
has reason to know that the person having the right to sell, rent or lease the housing accommodation
has made a practice of discrimination since July 1, 1972; [PL 2025, c. 269, §4 (AMD).]
[PL 2025, c. 269, §4 (AMD).]
3. Making of loans; other financial assistance. For any person to whom application is made for
a loan or other form of financial assistance for the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or
maintenance of any housing accommodation, whether secured or unsecured, or agent of the person, to:

A. Make or cause to be made any oral or written inquiry concerning the race or color, sex, sexual
orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin,
familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title
19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A, section 4110 or
pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation of any applicant
for financial assistance or of existing or prospective occupants or tenants of housing
accommodations; or [PL 2025, c. 269, §5 (AMD).]
B. Discriminate in the granting of financial assistance, or in the terms, conditions or privileges
relating to obtaining or the use of any financial assistance, against any applicant because of race or
color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry,
national origin, familial status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection
under Title 19-A, former section 4007 or a final protection order pursuant to Title 19-A, section
4110 or pursuant to a substantially similar provision of the law of another state or nation; or [PL
2025, c. 269, §5 (AMD).]
[PL 2025, c. 269, §5 (AMD).]
4. Receipt of public assistance. For any person furnishing rental premises or public
accommodations to refuse to rent or impose different terms of tenancy to any individual who is a
recipient of federal, state or local public assistance, including medical assistance and housing subsidies,
primarily because of the individual's status as recipient.
[PL 2011, c. 613, §11 (NEW); PL 2011, c. 613, §29 (AFF).]

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