HB 220 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Environment - Water - Individual Submeters

HB 220 requires apartment buildings with multiple units to install individual water meters for each dwelling unit, replacing bulk meters. It prohibits landlords from charging tenants for leaks they caused, common-area usage, or maintenance costs, and mandates that charges reflect actual water use. Tenants gain the right to inspect leak detection monitors and review billing records, while unpaid water bills cannot be used to evict tenants for nonpayment. The bill also establishes a complaint process for tenants to address billing disputes with local housing authorities or consumer protection offices.

Issues: ✓ Environment ✓ Housing

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Oct 30, 2025 Signed Apr 28, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Environment - Water - Individual Unit Meters → Third - Environment - Water - Individual Submeters · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand its scope from only apartment houses to include mobile home parks. It also updated the legal citation to add a new section regarding written leases and billing transparency for tenants in both apartment houses and mobile home parks.

Scope change

The bill now applies to both apartment houses and mobile home parks, whereas it previously only covered apartment houses.

SCOPE

Added mobile home parks to the list of properties covered by the bill's metering and billing rules.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'individual unit meter' to now include 'submeters' and apply to both apartment houses and mobile home parks.

Added a new definition for 'individual unit meter submeter' to clarify equipment used for water usage determination.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for landlords to use specific written leases, provide water/sewer bills within a set timeframe, and notify prospective tenants of certain information.

Added a prohibition on landlords requiring tenants to make payments to third parties.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility for installing meters to include owners, operators, or managers of mobile home parks.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 21, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

33–11

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 49

Mar 21, 2026

D Democratic36

31 Yea 5

86% Yea

R Republican13

2 Yea 11 Nay

84% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 28, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 262

executive

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned Passed

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Mar 21, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (33-11-5)

senate

Feb 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Education, Energy, and the Environment

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion Special Order until 2/18 (Delegate Buckel) Adopted

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Feb 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Environment and Transportation

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Committee

First Reading Environment and Transportation

lower

Oct 30, 2025

Introduced

Pre-filed

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors