HB 796 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Real Property – Filing Fee for Residential Mortgage Foreclosure – Increase

HB 796 increases the filing fee for residential mortgage foreclosure cases in Maryland from $300 to $600 per case. This change affects lenders or mortgage servicers filing foreclosure actions, requiring them to pay the higher fee when submitting court documents. The bill does not alter foreclosure procedures or requirements - only the fee amount is increased. It amends Maryland’s real property law (Section 7-105.1(e)) and takes effect October 1, 2025. The fee increase applies to all residential foreclosures filed after this date.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Real Property – Filing Fee for Residential Mortgage Foreclosure – Increase → Third - Real Property – Filing Fee for Residential Mortgage Foreclosure – Increase · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to add new sponsors (Woods, Phillips, and Stinnett) and advance its legislative status to include a favorable committee report and House adoption. The most substantive change is the modification of the filing fee for residential mortgage foreclosure cases, which was increased from $300 to $450, replacing the previous $600 amount. This adjustment likely reflects a legislative decision to balance revenue generation with the financial burden on homeowners facing foreclosure.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on real property and residential mortgage foreclosure filing fees, with no changes to its applicability or eligibility criteria.

FISCAL

The filing fee for residential mortgage foreclosure cases was adjusted from $600 to $450, reducing the fee amount by $150.

TECHNICAL

New sponsors (Woods, Phillips, and Stinnett) were added to the list of bill sponsors, and the bill's legislative history was updated to reflect committee approval and House adoption.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 15, 2025 · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

33–13

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 47

Mar 15, 2025

D Democratic34

31 Yea 3 Nay

91% Yea

R Republican13

2 Yea 10 Nay 1

76% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 13, 2025

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 581

Apr 2, 2025

House of Delegates · Passed

Returned Passed

Apr 2, 2025

Senate · Passed

Third Reading Passed

Mar 26, 2025

Senate · Reported by committee

Favorable Adopted

Mar 26, 2025

Senate · Reported by committee

Favorable Report by Judicial Proceedings

Mar 17, 2025

Senate · Referred to committee

Referred Judicial Proceedings

Mar 15, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (33-13-1)

Mar 14, 2025

House of Delegates · Passed

Third Reading Passed

Mar 14, 2025

House of Delegates · Reported by committee

Favorable with Amendments {

Mar 14, 2025

House of Delegates · Reported by committee

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary

Mar 5, 2025

House of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (94-40-6)

Jan 29, 2025

House of Delegates · Referred to committee

First Reading Judiciary

6 primary · 0 co-sponsors