The Legal Aid Society praised the passage of one of the most comprehensive anti-eviction laws in the nation after a huge push by tenant advocates to strengthen protections for tenants.

The COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act was easily passed by state lawmakers and will prohibit landlords from evicting most tenants, allow a temporary stay on all evictions for at least 60 days, and will allow tenants to protect their homes by submitting a document stating financial hardship related to the pandemic.

“This critical legislation – which establishes one of the strongest statewide eviction moratoriums in the country – will defend hundreds of thousands of families from eviction and homelessness,” said The Legal Aid Society, in a statement Saturday.