City of Bellingham Initiative 26-01 — Prohibition of Algorithmic Price-Fixing in the Rental Market (Whatcom County)

What it does

This measure would prohibit two or more landlords from entering into an agreement to establish rental prices, prohibit the use of paid algorithmic coordinating services that use systems or software to analyze public and private data about the rental market to recommend rental prices, lease renewal terms, or occupancy levels to multiple landlords, create a private right of action, establish whistleblower and anti-retaliation protections for tenants and employees, and authorize civil and criminal penalties. Should this measure be enacted into law?

A YES vote means

Bellingham would ban landlords from agreeing together on rental prices and from using paid algorithm services that recommend rents, lease terms or occupancy to multiple landlords, with private lawsuits, whistleblower protections and civil and criminal penalties.

A NO vote means

Bellingham would not enact this ban on rental price agreements and algorithmic pricing services.

Needed to pass

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Left–right lean

Unclear: our AI read of the official summary isn't confident enough (we require 70%) to place this on the left–right spectrum, so we don't. Read the summary and decide for yourself.

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

This is a citizen initiative (Initiative No. 2026-01) proposed by petition of Bellingham voters; the City Council considered it on July 13, 2026 and chose to send it to voters rather than enact or reject it, according to Resolution No. 2026-18.

According to the resolution, the initiative would add a new chapter to the Bellingham Municipal Code prohibiting landlords from agreeing on rental prices and banning paid algorithmic services that recommend rents, lease terms or occupancy levels to multiple landlords, with a private right of action, whistleblower and anti-retaliation protections, and civil and criminal penalties.

The Council passed Resolution No. 2026-18 on July 27, 2026, asking the Whatcom County Auditor to place the measure on the November 3 ballot and directing staff to recruit volunteers for committees for and against it.

Put on the ballot by Citizen initiative petition; deferred to voters by the Bellingham City Council, July 27, 2026 (Resolution No. 2026-18).

From official source.

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Also on Whatcom County ballots

• City of Bellingham Proposition No. 2026-06 — Authorizing the City's Salary Commission to Set the Mayor's Salary
• City of Bellingham Proposition No. 2026-07 — Streamlining the City's Contract Review Process to Allow Electronic Signatures
• City of Lynden Proposition No. 2026-05 — Levy Lid Lift for Public Safety and Essential Community Services

All Whatcom County races and measures →

Quick answers

What does a YES vote on City of Bellingham Initiative 26-01 mean?

Bellingham would ban landlords from agreeing together on rental prices and from using paid algorithm services that recommend rents, lease terms or occupancy to multiple landlords, with private lawsuits, whistleblower protections and civil and criminal penalties.

What does a NO vote on City of Bellingham Initiative 26-01 mean?

Bellingham would not enact this ban on rental price agreements and algorithmic pricing services.

How many votes does City of Bellingham Initiative 26-01 need to pass?

A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.

Should I vote yes or no on City of Bellingham Initiative 26-01?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.

When is the vote?

The general election was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Counts are unofficial until each state certifies its results over the following weeks; your state or county election office has the official results.