Housing

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 462: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases and Holdover Tenancies - Local Good Cause Termination (Good Cause Eviction)

SB 462 allows Maryland counties to adopt local "good cause eviction" laws that prevent landlords from terminating residential leases or evicting tenants without a valid reason (like nonpayment or lease violations). Landlords in counties with such laws must include specific notices in leases about whether good cause rules apply and disclose ownership details if claiming an exception. The state's Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs must create standardized forms for these disclosures and tenant notifications. This bill modifies Maryland's real property laws to implement this framework, but it only applies in counties that choose to adopt the local ordinances.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents arbitrary evictions by requiring good cause for termination, strengthening tenant protections and housing stability per bill's core purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 80: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Fee Disclosures

HB 80 requires landlords managing four or more rental units to provide prospective tenants with a clear, written list of all fees (including mandatory and optional fees like parking or pet charges) before signing a lease. It prohibits landlords from charging any mandatory fee that wasn’t disclosed in advance and makes lease terms violating this rule unenforceable. Tenants can sue landlords for violations occurring after February 2027, potentially recovering triple damages plus attorney fees. The law excludes utility charges, security deposits, and fees tied to tenant actions (like replacement keys), and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates fee transparency for landlords and provides tenant remedies for violations, directly strengthening tenant protections in housing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 343: Housing Development Projects - Housing Counseling Services

HB 343 requires housing development projects receiving state funding to offer HUD-certified housing counseling services to prospective residents. It mandates that these services must be provided by counselors employed by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bill also requires the Governor to appropriate $200,000 annually starting in fiscal year 2028 for community development organizations to partner with approved housing counseling agencies. This directly affects developers receiving state housing funds and prospective residents of subsidized housing projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates $200,000 annual appropriation for housing counseling services, directly funding a public program under budget authority.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates HUD-certified counseling for funded housing projects and allocates $200K annually for counseling services, directly advancing tenant access to housing resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Homeownership Housing Finance

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 603: Baltimore County - Homestead Property Tax Credit Percentage

HB 603 requires Baltimore County to set its homestead property tax credit percentage at a fixed 100% for all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026. This directly affects Baltimore County homeowners who qualify for the homestead property tax credit, which reduces their property tax bill by applying the credit percentage to their taxable assessment. Previously, Baltimore County could choose a credit percentage between 100% and 110% or use the prior year's rate, but this bill eliminates that flexibility. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, for the 2026 tax year.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesFixes homestead credit at 100% (capping previous max of 110%), reducing potential tax relief for homeowners by restricting credit percentage options.90% confidence ✗ HousingOpposes HousingBill fixes homestead tax credit at 100% (down from max 110%), reducing potential tax relief for homeowners and limiting affordability measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Credits Property Taxes

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 14, 2026

HB 98: Inheritance Tax - Beneficiaries of Limited Means - Installment Payments

HB 98 would allow Maryland residents with low incomes to pay inheritance tax in installments instead of a single lump sum. It specifically applies to people who inherit a home they live in or a farm they continue to operate (as defined by the bill), but only if paying the full tax would force them to sell that property. The county official who handles wills must approve this payment plan if requested by the beneficiary. The law would take effect for deaths occurring on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides inheritance tax relief for low-income beneficiaries by allowing installment payments, preventing forced property sales due to tax burden.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents forced sale of inherited homes due to tax burden, protecting low-income homeownership stability90% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 19, 2026

HB 62: Anne Arundel County - Summons for Actions to Repossess for Failure to Pay Rent - Alterations

HB 62 modifies eviction notice procedures for unpaid rent cases in Anne Arundel County. It requires the District Court to direct eviction notices to constables or sheriff’s designees (who now have the same authority as sheriffs) and mandates that notices be posted conspicuously at the property address. This affects landlords, tenants, and law enforcement handling eviction cases in Anne Arundel County. The bill standardizes service methods to ensure tenants are properly notified of court hearings for rent nonpayment.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingModifies eviction notice procedures to ensure proper tenant notification, strengthening tenant protections under housing policy through standardized service methods.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 337: School Construction and Housing - School Zones and Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances

HB 337 requires Maryland county school boards to annually submit detailed reports on school zones, student residency locations (without personal identifiers), and school capacity to state planning agencies starting July 1, 2026. It prohibits local "adequate public facilities ordinances" from delaying subdivision or site development plan approvals but allows them to delay final building permits. This directly affects county school boards, housing developers, and local planning departments by standardizing school zone data sharing and clarifying when school capacity rules can impact housing projects. The bill aims to streamline housing development while ensuring school capacity data informs planning.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits local 'adequate public facilities ordinances' from delaying housing subdivision approvals, facilitating faster development without weakening housing access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development Zoning

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 379: Recovery Residence Grant Program - Funding

This bill ensures Maryland's Recovery Residence Grant Program receives $500,000 annually from fiscal years 2024 through 2030 by requiring this funding be included in the state's annual budget. It directly supports recovery residences (such as sober living facilities) that provide housing and support services for people in addiction recovery. The law updates existing funding rules to extend the annual budget requirement through 2030, preventing potential funding gaps. This creates a stable funding mechanism for these community-based recovery programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates annual $500k state budget allocation for recovery residences, ensuring stable funding for essential addiction support services through 2030.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds recovery residences for addiction rehabilitation, directly advancing criminal justice reform by supporting rehabilitation programs and reducing recidivism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds addiction recovery residences (mental health support) via mandatory annual $500k budget allocation, preventing funding gaps for critical healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds recovery residences (sober living housing) for addiction recovery, directly supporting affordable housing initiatives via annual budget allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2026

HB 432: Municipalities - Vagrancy - Repeal of Authority to Prohibit

HB 432 repeals a provision in Maryland law that allowed municipalities to prohibit "vagrancy" (laws targeting homeless or loitering individuals without clear purpose). The bill directly affects local governments by removing their legal authority to enforce such vagrancy prohibitions under Section 5-207(c)(2) of the Maryland Annotated Code. Key mechanisms include deleting "vagrancy" from the list of activities municipalities could ban, while preserving other related powers like prohibiting gambling or vice. The change takes effect October 1, 2026, and represents a concrete policy shift in local law enforcement authority.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals vagrancy laws criminalizing homelessness/loitering, reducing unnecessary arrests and aligning with criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRepeals vagrancy laws criminalizing homelessness, removing barriers for unhoused individuals and aligning with housing access protections90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Homelessness Tenant Rights

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 169: Criminal Procedure - Expungement of Records - Good Cause

HB 169 allows individuals with past misdemeanor or felony convictions to petition courts for expungement (removal of court records) after specific waiting periods: 5 years for misdemeanors and 7 years for felonies following completion of sentences, parole, or probation. Courts may grant expungement if a person demonstrates "good cause," considering factors like the crime's nature, rehabilitation success, public safety risk, and the impact of the conviction on employment or housing. If denied, the decision cannot be appealed, and the person must wait 3 years before reapplying for the same conviction. This bill directly affects Maryland residents seeking to clear past criminal records to improve access to jobs, housing, and other opportunities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enables expungement of records for past convictions, promoting rehabilitation and reducing barriers to employment/housing - core criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly lists 'impact on housing' as a factor for expungement, removing criminal record barriers to housing access for individuals with past convictions.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly considers 'impact of conviction on employment' as a factor for expungement, directly addressing employment barriers for individuals with criminal records.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole

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