SB 154 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Access to Counsel in Evictions - Task Force and Special Fund

SB 154 makes permanent the requirement that Maryland's Comptroller distribute $14 million annually from abandoned property funds to the Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund. This fund, administered by the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC), directly supports legal representation for low-income renters facing eviction across the state. The bill ensures this $14 million distribution continues each year (starting fiscal year 2025) from proceeds of abandoned property sales under Commercial Law, replacing a temporary provision. It also terminates the related Eviction Access Task Force on a specific date, streamlining the program's operation.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2024

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Oct 30, 2024 Signed May 13, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Access to Counsel in Evictions – Task Force Termination and Special Fund → Third - Access to Counsel in Evictions - Task Force and Special Fund · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to extend the requirement for distributing funds to the Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund from a temporary period through 2027 to an ongoing permanent requirement. The task force's termination was changed to allow for alterations to its staff and duties rather than complete termination. Several code sections were renumbered and consolidated to reflect these changes.

Scope change

The bill now extends the funding requirement permanently rather than limiting it to fiscal years 2024-2027, and modifies the Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force from termination to staff and duty alterations.

FISCAL

Changed the requirement for distributing $14,000,000 to the Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund from a temporary requirement for fiscal years 2024-2027 to a permanent requirement that continues indefinitely.

TIMELINE

Extended the fiscal year distribution requirement from ending in 2027 to continuing for each fiscal year thereafter.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the Access to Counsel in Evictions Task Force from being terminated on a certain date to having its staff and duties altered on a certain date.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report and Senate action status information to the bill header.

Reorganized and renumbered several Maryland Code sections (8-908, 8-909, 8-910, 8-911) to reflect the changes in the bill's provisions.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 2, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2025

How they voted

34–11

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 46

Mar 2, 2025

D Democratic33

33 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

1 Yea 11 Nay 1

84% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 13, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 457

executive

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Appropriations

lower

Mar 25, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (97-40-2)

house of delegates

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

Referred Appropriations Judiciary

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 2, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (34-11-1)

senate

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

First Reading Budget and Taxation and Judicial Proceedings

upper

Oct 30, 2024

Introduced

Pre-filed

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors