HB 1267 requires local zoning authorities to maintain specific zoning classifications for two federal properties: the Patuxent Research Refuge and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. The bill mandates that any portion of these properties sold, leased, or transferred by the federal government must retain a zoning classification restricting uses to open space, reserved open space, or resource conservation - prohibiting commercial, industrial, or residential development. This applies to the Patuxent Refuge under Section 4-217 and to Beltsville Agricultural Research Center property under Section 25-211 of Maryland law. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, and permanently prohibits local zoning exceptions for these properties.
HB 778 requires Maryland counties to evaluate vacant or underused commercial and industrial land for potential housing development and update their comprehensive plans to include policies promoting "middle housing" (such as duplexes, townhouses, and small apartment buildings). This applies to counties with comprehensive plans enacted or amended after January 1, 2027, and prohibits local governments from imposing unreasonable restrictions on middle housing projects. The bill mandates that housing elements of these plans assess opportunities for middle housing on suitable commercial or industrial sites. It aims to increase housing options by changing land-use rules without requiring specific housing types or income levels.
HB 1236 modifies Maryland law to prevent restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs - secondary housing units on the same property as a primary home) from applying to historic properties. It specifically exempts two categories: (1) properties listed in or eligible for Maryland’s Historic Register, and (2) properties within districts designated as historic under local zoning rules. This means property owners in historic districts can develop or rent ADUs without facing prohibitions based solely on historic designation. The bill does not change general ADU rules outside historic areas but ensures historic preservation rules cannot block ADU development in these zones.
HB 894, the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, automatically designates qualifying transit-oriented developments (near rail stations with at least hourly service Monday-Friday 8am-6pm) as enterprise zones, granting tax incentives without separate approval. The bill requires the Maryland Development Corporation to prioritize redevelopment projects near transit in its loan programs and delays certain development fees for residential housing projects. It also changes local land use regulations near transit stations by altering municipal authority to restrict development in these areas.
HB 1137 (the "Bring Back Main Street Act") requires Maryland counties to permit multifamily developments (buildings with 5+ residential units sharing walls) and mixed-use developments (primarily residential with non-residential space limited to under 50% of total floor area, confined to first floors) on certain properties. It prohibits counties from imposing restrictions on these developments, such as limiting building height or density, while allowing counties to require a minimum of 15% of floor space in mixed-use projects to be dedicated to retail uses and to mandate on-site parking. The bill directly affects counties (by changing their zoning authority), developers seeking to build these projects, and property owners on affected parcels. It updates Maryland’s land use code to streamline approval for these development types, aiming to support community revitalization.
SB 818 amends Maryland law to establish new requirements for developing the 28-acre State Center property in Baltimore City. It requires all new or modified development contracts to include an enforceable community benefits agreement with the State Center Neighborhood Alliance, a local hiring plan with job goals, and an economic improvement plan prioritizing minority- and women-owned businesses. The bill also creates a State Center Advisory Group composed of neighborhood associations, anchor institutions, and community organizations within a 1-mile radius to provide community input, leverage neighborhood benefits, and ensure transparency. This directly affects the developer of the State Center project and surrounding Baltimore neighborhoods.
SB 372 establishes Maryland's New Markets Development Program to incentivize private investment in low-income communities. It creates a refundable tax credit against state income tax and certain insurance taxes for investors who make qualified equity investments in Maryland-based community development entities serving low-income areas. The credit provides 5% of the investment amount for the first three years and 8.75% for the next four years, totaling seven years. This directly affects investors, community development entities, and qualifying low-income businesses that receive capital to support job creation and economic development in underserved areas.
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.
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.
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.
