Housing

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 47: Housing and Community Development - Neighborhood Business Development Program - Local Approval Requirement

SB 47 repeals a requirement that political subdivisions (like cities or counties) must approve business development applications before the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development can approve them. This change directly affects small businesses, nonprofits, and microenterprises seeking financial assistance under the Neighborhood Business Development Program. The key provision removes the need for local government approval, streamlining the application process by allowing the Department to approve projects if no response is received within 45 days. The bill does not alter funding amounts, eligibility criteria, or existing requirements for food desert projects or sustainable communities.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves local approval barrier for housing-related Neighborhood Business Development Program, streamlining access to funding for small businesses and nonprofits supporting community development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Property Development

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 691: State Government - Procedures - Permitting Efficiency for Housing Development Projects

HB 691 requires Maryland state agencies that issue housing construction permits to create streamlined permitting processes. Key provisions include allowing multiple permits to be handled simultaneously where possible, establishing predictable sequencing for approvals, and creating clear pathways for faster reviews. The State Housing Ombudsman must ensure consistency across different agencies’ processes and facilitate coordination with local governments. This bill directly affects state agencies, local governments (through potential delegation of permit tasks), and developers seeking housing construction permits, with implementation required by October 2026 and a reporting deadline for the Ombudsman in December 2027.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingStreamlines housing permitting to accelerate development, increasing housing supply and reducing approval delays for projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes Property Development Zoning

Track

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026

HB 379: Prince George's County - School Facilities and Public Safety and Behavioral Health Surcharges - Deferral of Payment PG 405-26

HB 379 allows Prince George's County to delay payment of school facilities and public safety/behavioral health surcharges on new residential construction until specific events occur. Sellers of new homes will no longer need to pay these fees upfront when applying for building permits. Instead, payment can be deferred until final inspection, occupancy permit issuance, or the first property sale after the building permit is issued. The bill modifies existing county laws to implement this deferral process without changing the surcharge amounts or requirements.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingDefers fees for new residential construction, reducing upfront costs for developers. This encourages housing development, a key aspect of the housing topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Building Codes

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 58: Property Tax Credit - Retail Service Station Conversions

SB 58 allows Baltimore City or Maryland counties to offer property tax credits to owners who convert former gas stations into retail, residential, or mixed-use properties. The credit is specifically intended to help cover costs for removing old underground gas tanks and cleaning up soil or water contamination from those tanks. Local governments can set the credit amount and duration, and the state will reimburse them 50% of the lost property tax revenue. This directly affects property owners and developers planning to redevelop former gas station sites into other commercial or housing uses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows property tax credits for cleanup with 50% state reimbursement, supporting fiscal management through targeted tax relief without net budget loss.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directly funds cleanup of soil/water contamination from gas station tanks, advancing pollution remediation and environmental protection.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill incentivizes residential redevelopment of underutilized gas stations via property tax credits, removing cleanup cost barriers to increase housing supply and development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue Tax Credits Water Quality Property Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 325: Land Use - Permitting - Development Rights (Maryland Housing Certainty Act)

SB 325, the Maryland Housing Certainty Act, requires local governments and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to base housing development approvals solely on land use rules in effect when a developer submits a complete application. It grants developers "vested rights" protecting approved projects from future rule changes for a set period and prohibits collecting development taxes or impact fees before construction is finished. The bill directly affects housing developers seeking permits and local regulatory agencies managing land use. It creates a new "Maryland Housing Certainty Act" section in state law to formalize these protections and fee restrictions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill facilitates housing development by granting developers vested rights and prohibiting pre-construction fees, directly advancing housing development as per topic description.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Land Use Property Taxes Zoning

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 702: Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund - Uses - Cooperative Housing Corporations and Condominiums (Co-Op and Condo Energy Refund Equity Act)

HB 702 directs that a portion of the Maryland Strategic Energy Investment Fund - funded by compliance fees paid by electric companies - be used to provide energy bill refunds for members of cooperative housing corporations and condominium unit owners in 2027. These refunds specifically target residents who did not receive a similar refund in 2025 under prior legislation. The refunds must be issued to the co-op or condo board, which then distributes them to individual residents, with half paid during a peak summer month and half during a peak winter month. This ensures co-op and condo residents receive equitable energy cost relief previously available to other residential customers.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyDirects energy fund refunds to reduce utility costs for co-op/condo residents, aligning with protecting utility consumers per SUPPORT indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill directs Strategic Energy Investment Fund (funded by electric companies) to provide energy bill refunds targeting efficiency, promoting reduced energy consumption and aligning with environmental protection goals.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides energy bill refunds to co-op/condo residents, reducing housing costs and increasing affordability for cooperative housing residents.95% confidence

Track

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

HB 213: Evidence – Interception of Oral Communications – Fair Housing Testing

HB 213 allows fair housing testers working for qualified programs (federal, state, local governments, or nonprofit civil rights organizations with specific experience) to legally record oral conversations when testing for housing discrimination. It permits this only if the tester is a party to the conversation and the recording is solely to gather evidence of a fair housing violation under federal, state, or local law. The bill strictly limits the use of such recordings - they cannot be admitted as evidence in court but may only be used to enforce fair housing laws. This directly affects fair housing organizations and their testers by creating a legal pathway to collect evidence of discrimination in housing. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables evidence gathering for fair housing discrimination claims, strengthening anti-discrimination enforcement in housing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 220: Environment - Water - Individual Submeters

HB 220 requires apartment buildings with multiple units to install individual water meters for each dwelling unit, replacing bulk meters. It prohibits landlords from charging tenants for leaks they caused, common-area usage, or maintenance costs, and mandates that charges reflect actual water use. Tenants gain the right to inspect leak detection monitors and review billing records, while unpaid water bills cannot be used to evict tenants for nonpayment. The bill also establishes a complaint process for tenants to address billing disputes with local housing authorities or consumer protection offices.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates individual water meters to ensure tenants pay for actual usage, promoting conservation of water resources.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires individual meters, prohibits unfair water charges, prevents eviction for unpaid water bills, and grants tenant billing inspection rights - directly strengthening tenant protections in housing.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Tenant Rights

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 335: Landlord and Tenant - Discrimination in Housing for Income-Based Housing Subsidies and Positive Rental History Reporting

This bill prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to potential tenants who use income-based housing subsidies (like federal housing vouchers) based on the tenant's income, credit score, or past credit history that occurred before they received the subsidy. It directly affects landlords and tenants using such subsidies, ensuring they cannot be discriminated against for relying on government assistance to pay rent. The law amends Maryland's housing discrimination statutes to clarify that such refusals constitute a discriminatory practice enforceable by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, with a limited exception for properties receiving funding that requires income verification for tenant eligibility.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents discrimination against tenants using income-based housing subsidies, strengthening tenant protections and access to affordable housing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 130: Environment - Water - Individual Submeters

SB 130 requires landlords in multi-unit apartment buildings (with more than two dwelling units) to install individual water meters for each unit instead of using bulk billing. It prohibits landlords from charging tenants for leaks, poor maintenance, or common areas, and mandates that meters include leak detection monitors that tenants can inspect. Landlords must maintain clear records of water costs and usage for tenant review, and unpaid water bills cannot be used as grounds for eviction. The law, effective October 1, 2026, also allows a $1 monthly administrative fee to cover billing costs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates individual water meters with leak detection, promoting conservation by billing based on actual usage and preventing waste from undetected leaks.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits landlords from charging tenants for leaks/common areas, mandates leak detection, and bans eviction over unpaid water bills - directly protects tenant rights and reduces housing costs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Tenant Rights