SB 511 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Corporations and Associations - Cooperative Limited Equity Housing Corporations - Establishment

SB 511 creates a legal path for Maryland nonstock housing corporations to convert into cooperative limited equity housing corporations (CLEHCs), which are member-owned housing entities where residents hold cooperative interests rather than traditional property ownership. The bill establishes conversion procedures, requires CLEHCs to maintain specific membership composition (including low/moderate-income households), limits resale profits on housing interests, and mandates relocation reimbursements for affected households during conversion. It also authorizes Maryland's Department of Housing to create additional rules and grant funding for CLEHCs while prohibiting local governments from restricting conversions. This directly affects current nonstock housing corporations and residents in properties transitioning to CLEHC ownership.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Apr 10, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Corporations and Associations - Cooperative Limited Equity Housing Corporations - Establishment Third - Corporations and Associations - Cooperative Limited Equity Housing Corporations - Establishment · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill has progressed from its initial introduction to a favorable committee report and adoption by the Senate, adding specific procedural milestones and dates. Substantively, the bill modifies the legal definition of a 'Member' to explicitly include households, clarifies that local governments cannot impose 'certain' restrictions rather than all restrictions, and reorganizes the bill's structure to repeal and reenact existing sections rather than just adding new ones.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding local government restrictions was narrowed by adding the word 'certain', and the definition of who qualifies as a 'Member' was expanded to explicitly include households.
TIMELINE

Added specific dates for the bill's introduction, second reading, and adoption, along with a favorable committee report status.

SCOPE

Changed the prohibition on local government restrictions from a blanket ban to a ban on 'certain' restrictions, potentially allowing some local rules to remain.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'Member' to state that an individual or a household owns a cooperative interest on behalf of a household, clarifying eligibility.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill's structure to repeal and reenact existing sections (5-207 and Subtitle 6D) rather than just adding to them, ensuring the new text replaces the old.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 22, 2026

How they voted

340
Passed · 15 other
Total votes 49
Mar 22, 2026
D Democratic36
25 Yea 11
69% Yea
R Republican13
9 Yea 4
69% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Apr 10, 2026
Committee
Referred Rules and Executive Nominations
lower
Apr 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Apr 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
upper
Mar 22, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (34-0-15)
senate
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
First Reading Judicial Proceedings
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Will Smith
Will Smith
DDemocratic
MD
20