SB 477 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Civil Actions - Real Estate Appraisals - Record Retention and Statute of Limitations

SB 477 establishes a 2-year or 4-year deadline for filing lawsuits related to real estate appraisal errors in Maryland. It applies to civil actions against appraisers, appraisal management companies, or others involved in appraisal work (including valuation reports, analysis assignments, and reviews), but excludes price recommendations from licensed agents. The deadline starts either when the complainant knew or should have known about the error (2 years) or 4 years after the appraisal work was completed (whichever comes first). The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and only applies to cases arising after that date. It does not cover administrative actions by the real estate appraiser commission or cases where fraud concealed the issue.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Civil Actions - Real Estate Appraisals - Statute of Limitations → Third - Civil Actions - Real Estate Appraisals - Record Retention and Statute of Limitations · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands the scope of real estate appraisal regulations by adding record retention requirements and extending the statute of limitations for discriminatory housing practices. It shifts the primary legal framework from courts to business occupations while maintaining civil action protections for consumers.

Scope change

The bill now applies to both general civil actions against appraisers and specifically extends protections to alleged discriminatory housing practices related to residential property appraisals.

REQUIREMENT

Licensed real estate appraisers must now retain appraisal records for 12 years instead of 5 years, with the retention period restarting if litigation is filed during the original period.

ELIGIBILITY

Civil actions for alleged discriminatory housing practices related to residential property appraisals are now explicitly covered under the statute of limitations provisions.

SCOPE

The bill was moved from the Courts and Judicial Proceedings article to the Business Occupations and Professions article, changing the primary regulatory framework.

TIMELINE

The statute of limitations for discriminatory housing practice claims is now 2 years from the later of when the practice occurred or ended, with specific exclusions for administrative proceedings.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

46–1

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 49

Mar 3, 2026

D Democratic36

34 Yea 2

94% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1 Nay

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Referred Economic Matters

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (46-1-2)

senate

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judicial Proceedings

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors