HB 747 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Environment - On-Site Wastewater Systems - Requirements for Inspection and Pumping Services and Extension of Sunset and Implementation Dates

HB 747 requires landlords and home sellers in Maryland to ensure on-site wastewater systems (like septic tanks) are inspected and pumped by licensed professionals before new tenants move in or property is sold, starting January 1, 2026. Landlords must verify this before each new tenant occupies the property, while home sellers must include it as a condition in real estate contracts. Both inspections and pumpings remain valid for three years. The bill applies to properties served by these systems and aims to improve system maintenance through standardized requirements.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 27, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2025

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What changed between versions

First - Environment - On-Site Wastewater Systems - Requirements for Inspection and Pumping Services → Third - Environment - On-Site Wastewater Systems - Requirements for Inspection and Pumping Services and Extension of Sunset and Implementation Dates · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands requirements for on-site wastewater systems by adding exceptions for certain property transfers, extending deadlines for landlords to ensure inspections and pumping, and extending sunset dates for related licensing and regulatory provisions. The changes aim to provide more flexibility for family property transfers while maintaining oversight for new tenants and sales.

Scope change

The bill now includes specific exemptions for property transfers between spouses, parent-child relationships, siblings in trusts, mortgage refinancing, and ownership changes without new parties. It also extends the deadline for landlord inspection requirements from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2026 July 1, 2028.

ELIGIBILITY

Added exceptions to inspection requirements for property transfers between spouses, parent-child relationships, siblings in trusts, mortgage refinancing, and ownership changes without new parties.

TIMELINE

Extended the deadline for landlords to ensure wastewater systems are inspected and pumped from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2026 July 1, 2028.

Extended sunset dates for on-site wastewater property transfer inspection licenses and related regulatory deadlines for the Department of the Environment and licensing board.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for landlords to notify delegated approval authorities when inspections identify failing wastewater systems, including notification about the failure and when the system is fixed.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 8, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion Laid Over (Senator Ready) Adopted

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion Special Order until Next Session (Senator Feldman) Adopted

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable

upper

Apr 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion Special Order until 03/15 (Delegate Korman) Adopted

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation

lower

Mar 8, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (98-39-2)

house of delegates

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

First Reading Environment and Transportation

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors