HB 543 Maryland House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Real Property - Landlord and Tenant - Family Child Care Homes

HB 543 allows landlords to charge up to two months' rent as a security deposit if a tenant operates a family child care home (defined as caring for up to eight children in a residence). It prohibits landlords from unreasonably restricting or banning such homes on single-family rental properties and shields landlords from civil liability related to the child care operation. Tenants must provide written notice 60 days before starting, share their child care registration, and supply insurance naming the landlord and property owners as additional insureds. The bill also requires tenants to notify landlords immediately if they stop operating the home and permits landlords to mandate $1 million liability insurance coverage.
Bill status passed 2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Failed
Mar 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Last action Mar 17, 2026
Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

3489
Failed · 19 other
Total votes 142
Mar 3, 2026
D Democratic103
89 Nay 14
86% Nay
R Republican39
34 Yea 5
87% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
3
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Motion Laid Over (Delegate Hartman) Adopted
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Introduced
Floor Amendment {
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Adopted
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable Report by Economic Matters
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Vote failed
House of Delegates Vote: fail (34-89-19)
house of delegates
Jan 27, 2026
Committee
First Reading Economic Matters
lower
24 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors