Housing

passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 511: Corporations and Associations - Cooperative Limited Equity Housing Corporations - Establishment

SB 511 creates a legal path for Maryland nonstock housing corporations to convert into cooperative limited equity housing corporations (CLEHCs), which are member-owned housing entities where residents hold cooperative interests rather than traditional property ownership. The bill establishes conversion procedures, requires CLEHCs to maintain specific membership composition (including low/moderate-income households), limits resale profits on housing interests, and mandates relocation reimbursements for affected households during conversion. It also authorizes Maryland's Department of Housing to create additional rules and grant funding for CLEHCs while prohibiting local governments from restricting conversions. This directly affects current nonstock housing corporations and residents in properties transitioning to CLEHC ownership.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates CLEHC structure requiring low-income membership, limiting resale profits to preserve affordability and member ownership.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 10, 2026

HB 1353: Homeless Individuals - Fee and Examination Exemptions

HB 1353 exempts homeless individuals in Maryland from specific fees and requirements. It prohibits the Maryland Department of Health from charging for vital records (like birth or death certificates) issued to homeless people, waives vehicle registration fees for vehicles owned by homeless individuals, and eliminates driver’s license fees for homeless applicants. The bill also allows unaccompanied homeless youth under 18 to take certain driver’s license exams sooner and exempts homeless individuals from mandatory vehicle emissions inspections. Homeless individuals must provide a written statement proving their homelessness to access these exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts homeless individuals from state fees (vital records, vehicle registration, driver's licenses), reducing government revenue and providing fiscal relief for low-income residents.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts homeless individuals from fees for vital records, vehicle registration, and driver's licenses, directly addressing homelessness to improve housing access and stability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 7, 2026

HB 774: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases and Holdover Tenancies - Local Good Cause Termination (Good Cause Eviction)

HB 774 allows counties in Maryland to adopt local laws requiring landlords to have a valid reason (like nonpayment of rent or lease violations) to terminate residential leases or evict tenants who remain after their lease ends ("holdover tenancies"). Landlords in counties with such laws must disclose whether they are subject to these rules in lease agreements and provide specific ownership details (including how many properties they own) if claiming an exemption. The bill also requires the state housing office to create standardized forms for this disclosure and to clarify when landlords must prove "good cause" in court. This directly affects landlords and tenants in counties that implement these local good cause eviction protections.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires landlords to have valid reasons for eviction, protecting tenants from arbitrary displacement - directly strengthens tenant rights in housing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Maryland · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 267: Land Use - Residential Housing - Oversight and Approval (Building Affordably in My Back Yard Act)

SB 267, the "Building Affordably in My Back Yard Act," aims to increase residential housing development by changing oversight, regulation, and tax policies. It requires property owners to certify contact information to the housing department, empowers local governments to streamline approvals for housing projects, and sets housing production targets. The bill allows counties to reduce certain taxes or fees for affordable housing projects while increasing them for non-affordable developments, and permits local tax adjustments for different property types. These changes directly affect property owners, local governments, and housing developers across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allows tax/fee reductions for affordable housing projects, providing targeted tax relief aligned with supporting lower-income housing initiatives.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill increases affordable housing via tax incentives for affordable projects, streamlines approvals, and sets housing production targets to advance development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 31: School Construction and Housing - School Zones and Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances

SB 31 requires Maryland county boards of education to annually submit detailed school zone and student capacity reports to state agencies starting in 2026. These reports must include school boundary maps, student residence locations, and school capacity metrics. The bill also restricts counties from delaying housing subdivision approvals based on school capacity but allows delays for final permits only. This directly affects county planning departments, school districts, and housing developers by standardizing school data reporting and clarifying housing development timelines. The law aims to balance school planning needs with housing development efficiency.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRestricts counties from delaying housing subdivisions based on school capacity, facilitating housing development and reducing bureaucratic barriers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 989: State Assistance for the Elderly - Study on Calculation of Income

HB 989 modifies how income is calculated for elderly individuals seeking state assistance. It prohibits including rental income from a portion of an individual's primary residence (e.g., renting a room) when determining eligibility for state tax credits, housing assistance, or medical assistance programs. The Department of Aging must review all relevant programs to confirm applicability and notify administering agencies if the rule applies. This change directly affects elderly Marylanders who rely on state assistance programs with income-based eligibility requirements. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExcludes rental income from eligibility calculations for state assistance programs, expanding access to benefits without increasing taxes, directly supporting elderly fiscal assistance programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExcludes rental income from income calculation for medical assistance eligibility, expanding access to healthcare for elderly residents.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExcludes rental income from primary residence for housing assistance eligibility, increasing access to programs for elderly residents without reducing benefits.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1506: Condominiums and Homeowners Associations - New Owner Fees - Limitations

HB 1506 limits fees that new condominium or homeowners association (HOA) owners must pay at closing. It prohibits associations from charging new unit owners (not initial buyers) more than the current monthly assessment paid by existing owners at closing. Similarly, new lot owners in HOAs cannot be charged more than the existing lot owner's current monthly assessment. This bill directly affects new buyers in these communities by capping their initial capital contribution fees. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCaps initial fees for new condo/HOA buyers, reducing upfront costs and increasing affordability for new owners in housing communities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 402: Common Ownership Communities - Oversight, Governing Document Database, and Local Commissions

HB 402 establishes a Common Ownership Community Ombudsman Unit within Maryland's Attorney General's Office to handle complaints from residents of homeowners associations (HOAs), condominiums, and cooperative housing communities about final adverse decisions made by their governing bodies. The unit will monitor relevant laws, provide members with information and referrals to dispute resolution services, and either make determinations about whether decisions violate laws or refer complaints to local county commissions. The bill also requires all common ownership communities to file governing documents with the Department of Housing and Community Development and mandates the department to create a public database of these documents. Annual reports on the unit's activities, including complaint volumes and actions taken, must be submitted to the department and the General Assembly.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes ombudsman unit to resolve disputes in HOAs/condos, strengthening tenant protections against unfair governance decisions85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 313: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Housing - Rental Applications and Tenant Screening

HB 313 prohibits landlords in Maryland from charging application or screening fees unless a rental unit is immediately available or will become available within 30 days. Landlords must provide written disclosures about screening criteria, fees, and reporting agencies before collecting any fees, and must give prospective tenants specific reasons, copies of screening reports, and the right to dispute inaccuracies if denying an application. The bill also bans landlords from considering sealed court records or failure-to-pay rent proceedings in screening decisions. Violations are treated as consumer protection law violations under Maryland law, subject to enforcement and penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents landlords from using sealed criminal records in tenant screening, protecting individuals with rehabilitated histories and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits unfair landlord fees and mandates transparency in tenant screening, strengthening tenant protections under housing policy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 455: Economic Development - Transformational Project Financing Program - Establishment

SB 455 establishes the Transformational Project Financing Program to help local governments fund large-scale development projects in designated areas. It allows counties or cities to apply to the Maryland Economic Development Corporation for "State-supported development district" status, requiring them to redirect property tax increases (tax increment) from these areas into a special fund instead of the general budget. This fund finances projects in priority areas like sustainable communities, transit-oriented developments, and designated enterprise zones. The bill creates new rules for calculating state revenue contributions and managing bond proceeds specifically for these designated districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects property tax increments to a special fund for development projects, promoting targeted fiscal management and strategic spending on priority areas.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates tax increment fund for development projects in sustainable communities, directly supporting housing development priorities without restricting tenant rights or affordability.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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