The Portland City Council on Wednesday evening approved a controversial ordinance that bans the use of algorithmic software to set rents.

The legislation is intended to prevent large landlords and property management companies from using AI software to engage in “price-fixing”, which can falsely inflate rents. Councilor Angelita Morillo championed the proposal starting in the spring and took it up again this fall after she put it on the back burner this summer.

All six members of the city’s progressive caucus voted for the ban, as did Councilors Elana Pirtle-Guiney and Loretta Smith. Councilors Dan Ryan and Olivia Clark voted against it, and Councilors Eric Zimmerman and Steve Novick were absent from the meeting.

The legislation rankled business, industry and homebuilding groups, who op

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