Real Property - Partition of Property - Liens and Purchase Price Adjustments
HB 1439 amends Maryland law governing property partition actions to clarify lien notification and adjust purchase prices for cotenants (co-owners). It requires parties to notify courts of outstanding liens (like mortgages or tax liens) if they don’t obtain a title report, and mandates courts to adjust purchase prices based on actual costs (e.g., property taxes, maintenance) or income (e.g., rent) incurred by a cotenant without equitable distribution. These adjustments must be supported by documentation and allow all cotenants to review the proposed price or request a hearing. The bill applies only to partition cases filed after October 1, 2026, and directly affects co-owners resolving property division disputes.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 13, 2026
Last action Mar 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
First - Real Property - Partition of Property - Liens and Purchase Price Adjustments
→
Third - Real Property - Partition of Property - Liens and Purchase Price Adjustments
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill adds procedural requirements for partition of property cases in Maryland, including a new requirement for cotenants to notify the court of outstanding liens if a title report is not required, and clarifies how courts should adjust purchase prices when cotenants have incurred costs or earned income from the property without equitable distribution to other cotenants.
Scope change
The bill applies prospectively to partition actions filed on or after October 1, 2026, and does not affect cases filed before that date.
REQUIREMENT
Added a requirement for parties to notify the court of outstanding liens (mortgages, deeds of trust, tax liens, and judgment liens) if a title report is not required in partition actions.
Modified the purchase price adjustment process to clarify that courts must consider necessary costs (property taxes, insurance, maintenance) and income earned (rental income) that were not equitably distributed among cotenants.
TIMELINE
Added a new effective date of October 1, 2026, for the Act's provisions.
TECHNICAL
Added committee report and house action status information indicating the bill was favorably amended and adopted.
Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026
How they voted
138–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 142
Mar 11, 2026
D
Democratic103
97% Yea
R
Republican39
97% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
9
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Mar 23, 2026
Committee
Referred Judicial Proceedings
upper
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third Reading Passed
lower
Mar 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
lower
Mar 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters
lower
Mar 11, 2026
House Of Delegates · Passed
House of Delegates Vote: pass (138-0-4)
house of delegates
Feb 13, 2026
Committee
First Reading Economic Matters
lower
14 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
April Rose
RRepublican
P
Barrie Ciliberti
RRepublican
P
Barry Beauchamp
RRepublican
P
Chris Tomlinson
RRepublican
P
Kevin Anderson
RRepublican
P
Kevin Hornberger
RRepublican
P
Mike Griffith
RRepublican
P
Steve Arentz
RRepublican
P
Susan McComas
RRepublican
P
Teresa Reilly
RRepublican
P
Terry Baker
RRepublican
P
Todd Morgan
RRepublican
P
Tom Hutchinson
RRepublican
P
William Valentine
RRepublican
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HB 1439
Scope: MD
Hi! I can help you understand HB 1439. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline