Land Use - Permitting - Development Rights (Maryland Housing Certainty Act)

SB 325, the Maryland Housing Certainty Act, requires local governments and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to base housing development approvals solely on land use rules in effect when a developer submits a complete application. It grants developers "vested rights" protecting approved projects from future rule changes for a set period and prohibits collecting development taxes or impact fees before construction is finished. The bill directly affects housing developers seeking permits and local regulatory agencies managing land use. It creates a new "Maryland Housing Certainty Act" section in state law to formalize these protections and fee restrictions.