SB 937 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)

SB 937, the Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act, prohibits landlords from requiring or considering a prospective tenant's criminal history before making a rental offer. Landlords may only review criminal history after extending a conditional offer and must allow tenants to provide evidence about inaccuracies, rehabilitation, or mitigating factors. The bill also bans upfront criminal history checks, restricts discriminatory housing ads, and makes violations enforceable under Maryland's consumer protection laws. It directly affects all residential landlords and tenants with past criminal records in Maryland.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026

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What changed between versions

Third - Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act) → Enrolled - Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act) · 4 edits · May 26, 2026

MODERATE

The bill has transitioned from a draft Senate version to its final enrolled form, adding official proofreading and gubernatorial approval lines. Substantively, the text reorganizes the bill's structure to align with the final legislative record, shifting the primary focus from repealing and reenacting specific sections of the Commercial Law to adding new provisions to the Real Property Article. This change formalizes the creation of a new subtitle dedicated to preventing discriminatory use of criminal history in residential leasing.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the specific sections of law being modified has shifted from the Commercial Law to the Real Property Article, establishing a new dedicated subtitle for fair chance housing practices.

TECHNICAL

Added official enrolled bill headers, proofreader signatures, and the Great Seal presentation language, which are standard procedural elements for final legislation.

STRUCTURE

Reorganized the bill's preamble to change the action from repealing and reenacting Commercial Law sections to adding new sections to the Real Property Article.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new legal framework (Subtitle 2A) specifically prohibiting landlords from using criminal history as the sole basis for denying housing or withdrawing conditional offers.

DEFINITION

Formalized definitions for key terms like 'conditional offer' and 'criminal history records' within the context of the new Real Property subtitle.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 30, 2026

How they voted

33–13

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 49

Mar 27, 2026

D Democratic36

32 Yea 1 Nay 3

88% Yea

R Republican13

1 Yea 12 Nay

92% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 752

executive

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Enrolled

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Introduced

Senate Concurs House Amendments

upper

Apr 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed with Amendments

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Introduced

Floor Amendment {

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters

lower

Mar 30, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (98-36-8)

house of delegates

Mar 27, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (33-13-3)

senate

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Referred Economic Matters

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judicial Proceedings

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors