Housing

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1547: Environment - Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing - Modified Risk Reduction Standard

HB 1547 modifies Maryland's lead risk reduction requirements for property owners in housing. It requires owners to complete specific lead hazard reduction measures - such as inspecting paint, repairing peeling paint, covering lead-based paint on windows, and cleaning after repairs - within 30 days of receiving written notice about a person at risk (e.g., a child with elevated blood lead levels) or a reported defect. The bill updates the timeline for compliance, adjusting the conditions under which the "modified risk reduction standard" must be met based on the date of blood lead testing or defect notification. This affects owners of housing properties where lead hazards are present and a person at risk is identified.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires property owners to address lead hazards within 30 days of notice about at-risk tenants (e.g., children with elevated lead levels), strengthening tenant health protections in housing.95% confidence

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signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 501: Washington County - Property Tax Credit - Platoon 22, Incorporated

SB 501 requires Washington County and its municipalities to grant a 100% property tax credit for real property owned by Platoon 22, Incorporated, specifically when that property is used to provide housing for veterans. The bill amends Maryland's tax code to mandate this credit by law, directly affecting only Platoon 22's taxable property within Washington County. The credit covers the full amount of county and municipal property tax on qualifying veteran housing properties. This policy change applies to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 100% property tax credit for veteran housing, providing tax relief for a public service and directly altering tax code to fund essential housing programs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides 100% property tax credit for veteran housing, reducing provider costs and advancing affordable housing access for a vulnerable population.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates 100% property tax credit for veteran housing provided by Platoon 22, directly funding housing services for veterans through tax relief.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Credits Property Taxes Veteran Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1218: Safe and Healthy Homes for All Act

HB 1218 requires Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development (specifically its Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs) to develop a plan identifying rental properties with repeated health and safety violations (like chronic code failures, severe distress, or unaddressed hazards) and to outline interventions for landlords. The plan must establish how to identify these properties (via tenant reports, local agencies, or tenant groups), detail specific actions like fines, corrective deadlines, mandatory repairs, pest control, and temporary tenant relocation, and include recommendations for legal changes. It mandates the department submit this plan to the Governor and General Assembly by August 31, 2027, after which the bill expires on December 31, 2027. This directly affects tenants living in unsafe housing and negligent landlords of multi-unit rentals.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires interventions for unsafe rental properties, strengthening tenant safety protections and addressing health hazards per bill's mandate to identify and correct severe violations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SB 850: Electric and Gas Companies - Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Demand Response Programs - Alterations (Utility Affordability and Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026)

SB 850 requires Maryland electric and gas companies (including midsize cooperatives after 2026) to design energy efficiency, conservation, and demand response programs that demonstrably lower residential customer bills. It mandates the Public Service Commission to establish caps on certain assessments and set deadlines for eliminating unpaid utility costs. The law ensures programs must include measurable bill savings for households, not just energy reductions, and requires annual reports tracking energy savings and emissions reductions from these programs. This directly affects all residential utility customers in Maryland by linking program requirements to tangible cost savings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates utility programs to lower residential bills, providing direct financial relief to households and promoting fiscal responsibility through measurable savings.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires utilities to design energy efficiency programs with measurable bill savings for households, mandates ratepayer protections, and focuses on lowering residential energy costs through conservation programs.92% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates energy efficiency and conservation programs for utilities, directly promoting resource conservation and reduced energy consumption, aligning with environmental protection goals.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingSB 850 mandates programs that demonstrably lower residential utility bills, directly reducing housing costs for households and advancing affordable housing affordability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending Energy Efficiency Utility Regulation Conservation

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1475: Consumer Protection - Dynamic Pricing Disclosure and Prohibition on Rent-Setting

HB 1475 requires merchants selling goods or services to disclose when prices are set using algorithms that analyze personal data, mandating a clear statement: "THIS PRICE WAS SET BY AN ALGORITHM USING YOUR PERSONAL DATA." It also prohibits residential landlords or property managers from using software, data analytics, or algorithms to coordinate rent adjustments or lease terms across multiple properties. Violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, subject to enforcement and penalties. The bill directly affects businesses using dynamic pricing and rental property owners/managers utilizing algorithmic tools for pricing decisions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits landlords from using algorithms to coordinate rent adjustments across properties, preventing potential coordinated rent hikes that harm tenants and strengthening tenant protections.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates disclosure of algorithmic pricing using personal data and prohibits algorithmic rent coordination, enhancing consumer data privacy protections under Maryland's Consumer Protection Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1538: Land Use - Accessory Dwelling Units - Requirements and Prohibitions (Maryland Generational Housing Act of 2026)

HB 1538, the Maryland Generational Housing Act of 2026, requires Maryland counties and municipalities to adopt local laws by October 1, 2026, permitting at least one internal accessory dwelling unit (ADU, like a converted basement) and one external ADU (like a backyard cottage) on single-family residential properties. The bill directly affects homeowners, local governments, and utility providers by prohibiting localities from imposing off-street parking requirements on ADUs, banning utility fees for shared meters/services, and exempting ADUs from property taxes. Key provisions include removing ADUs from density calculations for zoning purposes and ensuring they meet basic safety standards without requiring additional parking. This law aims to increase housing options for multi-generational households while streamlining development for existing single-family lots.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates ADU development on single-family properties, removes parking/utility barriers, directly increasing housing supply and affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Land Use Property Development Zoning

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1249: Certified Recovery Residences - Refusing Services to Individuals Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment - Prohibition

HB 1249 prohibits certified recovery residences in Maryland from refusing services to individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder or requiring them to stop or change their MAT as a condition for housing. The bill amends certification standards for recovery residences (which provide non-clinical housing for people with substance use disorders) to ensure credentialing entities cannot allow such discrimination. It directly affects certified recovery residences and individuals using MAT for opioid addiction, requiring certification rules to explicitly ban these practices. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to opioid use disorder treatment under MAT.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits discrimination against MAT users in recovery housing, ensuring access to substance use treatment services and protecting patient rights in healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits discrimination against MAT users in recovery residences, protecting tenant rights and ensuring housing access for vulnerable populations in housing settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Substance Abuse

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1436: Office of the Attorney General - Federal- and State-Assisted Housing Programs - Grievance Process

HB 1436 establishes a formal grievance process managed by Maryland's Office of the Attorney General for tenants in federal and state-assisted housing programs (including public housing, voucher programs, and emergency shelters). It requires housing providers to include grievance process notices in leases and annual communications, while the Attorney General's Office must investigate complaints, mediate disputes, and provide legal service referrals. If mediation fails, the Office can take legal action against non-compliant providers or those violating housing laws, and providers must compensate tenants harmed by violations. The bill also mandates annual reporting to the legislature on grievance outcomes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes mandatory grievance process for tenants in assisted housing, requiring notices in leases and Attorney General investigations/mediation, strengthening tenant protections in affordable housing programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tenant Rights

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signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 940: Environment - Water Quality Testing - Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels Action Plan

SB 940 requires Maryland's Department of the Environment to create and implement a mobile home park water quality testing program by January 1, 2027. The program mandates testing at 25% of parks by 2028, 50% by 2029, 75% by 2030, and 100% by 2031, prioritizing parks with 40%+ minority residents, areas with known geological contaminants, parks where residents requested testing or filed complaints, and parks using private water supplies. Park owners must take corrective actions if water quality issues are identified, and the Department must provide results to residents in multiple languages. This bill directly affects mobile home park owners and residents across Maryland by establishing a structured process to ensure drinking water safety.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates water quality testing in mobile home parks with phased implementation, prioritizing vulnerable communities and contamination risks, directly advancing environmental protection and pollution control standards.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates water testing in mobile home parks (affordable housing) prioritizing minority-resident parks and health risks, directly protecting tenant safety and health in housing conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water Parks & Recreation Water Quality

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 1427: Property Tax Credits - Renters' Tax Credit, Homeowners' Tax Credit, and Homestead Tax Credit - Altering Eligibility and Amount

HB 1427 modifies Maryland's Renters' Tax Credit, Homeowners' Tax Credit, and Homestead Tax Credit by adjusting income thresholds, calculation formulas, and maximum credit amounts. It increases the maximum annual credit for renters from $1,200 (2027) to $2,000 (2029+), and for homeowners from $1,500 (2028) to $2,000 (2029+), while raising income thresholds for eligibility. The bill specifies phased-in income percentages (e.g., 0% on first $16,000 of income for renters in 2029+) and adds a $200,000 net worth limit for renters. It directly affects low-to-moderate-income renters (including seniors/disabled individuals) and homeowners meeting revised income criteria. These changes apply to tax years beginning July 1, 2027, and subsequent years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credits for renters/homeowners with higher caps ($2,000) and expanded income eligibility, providing direct tax relief to lower/middle-income residents.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases renter/homeowner tax credits, raises maximum annual amounts ($1,200→$2,000 for renters), and expands eligibility thresholds to boost housing affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Credits Property Taxes Renters Tenant Rights

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