HB 164 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Real Property - Wrongful Detainer - Time of Hearing and Service of Process

HB 164 makes it a misdemeanor to fraudulently claim or possess residential property you don’t legally own or possess, targeting individuals who intend to defraud property owners. It establishes penalties of up to 90 days in jail or $500 for a first offense, increasing to 1 year or $2,500 for repeat violations within 2 years. Property owners can submit a sworn affidavit to a sheriff, who must then remove occupants found to be fraudulently occupying the property unless the occupant proves lawful possession. The bill explicitly states it does not affect existing civil wrongful detainer lawsuits under Maryland law. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2024

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Sep 18, 2024 Last action Mar 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Criminal Law – Fraud – Possession of Residential Real Property → Third - Real Property - Wrongful Detainer - Time of Hearing and Service of Process · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope from only criminal fraud regarding property possession to also include civil wrongful detainer procedures, adding a new section on real property that establishes faster court hearings and modified service of process rules. The criminal fraud section was slightly modified to add repeat offense penalties and exceptions for court-ordered possession or existing legal remedies. This change matters because it creates a more comprehensive framework for addressing unauthorized property possession through both criminal and civil channels.

Scope change

The bill now covers both criminal fraud regarding property possession and civil wrongful detainer actions, whereas previously it only addressed criminal fraud.

SCOPE

Added a new section on wrongful detainer procedures for real property, expanding the bill beyond just criminal fraud to include civil remedies.

TIMELINE

Established a requirement that hearings in wrongful detainer cases must be held within 14 calendar days after a complaint is filed.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified service of process requirements for wrongful detainer actions, allowing service by certified mail and affixing summons to property under specific conditions.

REQUIREMENT

Added repeat offense penalties for property fraud, increasing maximum prison time and fines for subsequent violations within 2 years.

ELIGIBILITY

Added exceptions where the fraud provisions do not apply if possession was granted by court order or if other legal remedies are available.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 7, 2025

How they voted

135–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 139

Mar 7, 2025

D Democratic100

99 Yea 1

99% Yea

R Republican39

36 Yea 3

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

lower

Mar 7, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (135-0-4)

house of delegates

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

First Reading Judiciary

lower

Sep 18, 2024

Introduced

Pre-filed

lower

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors