HB 315 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Landlord and Tenant - Discrimination in Housing for Income-Based Housing Subsidies and Positive Rental History Reporting

HB 315 prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to potential tenants who pay rent using income-based housing subsidies (like federal vouchers) based on the tenant's income, credit score, or past credit issues that occurred before they received the subsidy. It directly affects landlords and tenants using such subsidies, making refusal a discriminatory housing practice enforceable by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. The bill includes an exception allowing landlords who receive funding requiring income qualification (e.g., for income-restricted housing) to collect financial information as a condition of that funding.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Human Relations - Discrimination in Housing - Income-Based Housing Subsidies → Third - Human Relations - Discrimination in Housing - Income-Based Housing Subsidies · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Maryland's housing discrimination laws to clarify how landlords can treat tenants using income-based housing subsidies. It adds specific rules allowing landlords to verify subsidy details and income ratios while strictly prohibiting them from using credit history gaps caused by the subsidy. The changes aim to balance the need for financial verification with the protection of subsidized tenants from unfair credit-based discrimination.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of protected classes by explicitly addressing discrimination against tenants relying on income-based housing subsidies, while maintaining existing protections for other groups.

REQUIREMENT

Landlords may now require verification that a tenant has sufficient income to pay their portion of rent, using a ratio similar to that used for non-subsidized tenants.

Landlords are prohibited from requiring a public housing authority to verify subsidy dates for the purpose of assessing a tenant's credit history.

Clarified that landlords cannot refuse tenants based on adverse credit history that arose while the tenant was receiving a subsidy.

ELIGIBILITY

Landlords are explicitly allowed to refuse tenants based on commercially reasonable criteria like past lease violations or property damage, even if the tenant uses a subsidy.

DEFINITION

Added specific methods for confirming a tenant's lack of subsidy during a relevant period, such as applicant statements or voucher paperwork.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 22, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 28, 2026

How they voted

35–10

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 49

Mar 22, 2026

D Democratic36

32 Yea 1 Nay 3

88% Yea

R Republican13

3 Yea 9 Nay 1

69% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 772

executive

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Enrolled

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Introduced

House Concurs Senate Amendments

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 28, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (97-34-11)

house of delegates

Mar 22, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (35-10-4)

senate

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

First Reading Economic Matters

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors