In the last few years, at least eight states have passed eviction record sealing laws, and eviction sealing legislation is being considered in several other cities and states across the country. These laws protect tenants by limiting the ability of tenant screening companies to access eviction filing data and sell it to landlords, locking tenants - even those who ultimately had their eviction cases dismissed - out of future housing opportunities.

At the same time, eviction sealing laws can obscure access to court records, which are the primary data source for tracking evictions and informing policies to prevent them.

Join the Future of Land and Housing Program at New America to discuss the wave of eviction record sealing legislation gaining traction across the country, and hear from local stakeholders at the forefront of finding ways to preserve access to court data for the public good while still protecting tenants.

Agenda:

 
Welcome: Yuliya Panfil, Director, New America Future of Land and Housing Program

 
Opening Remarks: Why Eviction Record Sealing is Urgent and Necessary

Natasha Duarte, Project Director, Upturn

Marie Claire Tran-Leung, Evictions Initiative Project Director and Staff Attorney, National Housing Law Partnership

 
Panel: How to Preserve Access to Eviction Data while Protecting Tenant Privacy?

Brittany Ruffin, Senior Counsel, The Washington Legal Clinic on the Homeless

Scott Davis, Public Information Officer, Maricopa County Justice Courts

Moderator: Sabiha Zainulbhai, Senior Policy Analyst, New America Future of Land and Housing Program

Q&A Session