SB 941 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Safe and Healthy Homes for All Act

SB 941 requires Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), working with the Attorney General, to create a plan identifying rental properties with chronic health and safety violations (like repeated code failures, unsafe conditions, or negligent landlords). The plan must establish methods for reporting such properties (via tenants, local agencies, or tenant groups) and outline specific interventions, including fines, legal actions, tenant escrow accounts, required repair deadlines, and temporary relocation for unsafe units. It mandates DHCD submit this plan and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by August 31, 2027. The bill directly affects tenants living in unsafe housing and landlords operating noncompliant properties.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Third - Department of Housing and Community Development - Severe Health and Safety Risk Properties - Intervention Plan → Enrolled - Safe and Healthy Homes for All Act · 7 edits · May 26, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized into an enrolled version with minor formatting updates and a significant scope restriction. The most important change is that the new plan now only applies to large apartment buildings with 50 or more units, narrowing its focus from all rental properties to high-volume, high-risk sites.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was restricted to properties containing 50 or more units, whereas the previous draft did not specify a unit threshold.

SCOPE

Added a new requirement limiting the plan's application to properties with 50 or more units.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the Department to seek input from renters, advocates, and property owners to develop the plan.

Added a requirement for the Department to coordinate with counties and municipalities to leverage local resources.

Added a requirement to identify cost-containment options, such as using county inspectors instead of hiring state inspectors.

TIMELINE

Added a new deadline requiring a final report to be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2027.

DEFINITION

Removed the specific list of examples for 'severe health and safety risk property' that included 'severely distressed' and 'persistently hazardous' properties.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect its status as an 'Enrolled Bill' and added official proofreader lines.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 26, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 30, 2026

How they voted

36–13

Passed

Total votes 49

Mar 26, 2026

D Democratic36

36 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican13

13 Nay

100% 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 631

executive

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Enrolled

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Introduced

Senate Concurs House Amendments

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters

lower

Mar 30, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (105-33-4)

house of delegates

Mar 26, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (36-13)

senate

Mar 21, 2026

Committee

Referred Economic Matters

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judicial Proceedings

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors