This bill directs the Maryland Department of Health to create regulations ensuring that drug and alcohol treatment programs discharge patients only when it is appropriate for their mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis. It specifically prohibits discharging patients who would become homeless or need residential care, while requiring programs to refer such individuals to halfway houses or recovery residences if they agree to that level of care. The legislation also mandates that treatment programs establish referral agreements for medical, mental health, legal, and social services within three working days after creating an individualized treatment plan, and ensures these agreements remain valid even if a patient is discharged. These standards apply to medium-intensity and high-intensity residential treatment programs in Maryland.
This Maryland bill requires property managers handling residential properties with four or more rental units to hold a state real estate broker license, expanding the definition of real estate brokerage services to include certain property management activities. The legislation mandates that landlords cannot use unlicensed property management services for qualifying residential properties and requires licensed property managers to complete continuing education on property management topics. Additionally, the bill establishes penalties for violations and creates a process for the State Real Estate Commission to investigate inadequate property management services after receiving a formal notice. These changes directly affect property management companies, landlords managing multi-unit residential properties, and the regulatory oversight provided by the State Real Estate Commission.
This bill limits how much mobile home park owners in Maryland can increase annual rent for existing residents, generally capping increases at the lower of the national consumer price index or 4% of the previous year's rent. It establishes a formal review process where owners seeking larger increases must petition the Department of Housing and Community Development, provide documentation of extraordinary expenses like major repairs or government-mandated improvements, and allow residents to submit comments within a 45-day period. The bill also prohibits park owners from retaliating against residents who participate in homeowners associations, file complaints, or exercise their legal rights. Additionally, it defines key terms such as "mobile home," "park," "resident," and "extraordinary expense" to clarify the scope of protections.
SB 732 requires Maryland's Comptroller to direct funds from the Community Reinvestment and Repair Fund (funded by cannabis tax revenue and business fees) specifically to Baltimore City's Comptroller. The Baltimore City Comptroller must then establish a special fund to distribute these resources to community programs in areas disproportionately impacted by historical cannabis enforcement. Funds can support services like behavioral health care, job training, housing assistance, and after-school programs - but cannot fund law enforcement or replace existing city programs. The bill mandates these funds remain separate from general city revenue and are subject to audit, ensuring they directly benefit Baltimore communities most affected by past cannabis policies.
HB 1517 protects residential development projects targeted by "retaliatory downzoning" by allowing higher density. It defines a "qualified project" as a residential development (new construction or major renovation) that faced zoning changes after local officials publicly opposed it, while meeting affordable housing requirements (15% affordable units for 40 years, or 20% in jurisdictions with stricter prior rules). The bill requires local jurisdictions to permit density exceeding standard limits: 60% higher than typical in multifamily zones, or 50% of previous zoning density. This applies to projects in single-family, multifamily, nonresidential, or mixed-use areas, with specific density rules for each zone type.
SB 812 modifies Maryland's homeowners' property tax credit by raising the income eligibility threshold from $60,000 to $100,000 in the preceding calendar year and adjusting the credit calculation structure. The bill now applies 0% to the first $15,000 of combined income, 3% to the next $7,500, 6% to the following $7,500, and 9% to income exceeding $30,000. This change directly affects Maryland homeowners with combined gross income up to $100,000 who qualify for the credit. The bill takes effect for tax years beginning after June 30, 2026.
SB 765 creates an "Heirs Protection Program" administered by Maryland's State Tax Sale Ombudsman to protect heirs who inherit homes from property tax sales. It allows heirs (including those not yet recorded as title holders) to become the legal owner of an inherited dwelling, preventing tax sales and enabling them to remain in their homes. The bill establishes an Heirs Protection Fund financed by state and county governments to support the program, including outreach, grants, and information dissemination. It also expands eligibility for homeowner and homestead tax credits to include qualifying heirs who haven’t yet updated land records, under specific conditions. These changes aim to prevent displacement of families after a homeowner’s death.
HB 858 changes the timeline for holding hearings in eviction cases (wrongful detainer actions) in Maryland. It increases the deadline for scheduling a hearing after a complaint is filed from 10 business days to 14 calendar days. This affects landlords and tenants involved in eviction proceedings, as well as county courts handling these cases. The key change ensures hearings must occur within 14 days of filing, including weekends, rather than strictly business days. The bill directly alters the procedural timeline for resolving possession disputes over residential property.
HB 805, the Building Homes Act, creates a property tax credit for affordable homes in Maryland. It allows Baltimore City or county/municipal governments to offer tax credits against property taxes for dwellings with mortgages from nonprofit lenders and a 20-year agreement ensuring affordable pricing (including resale restrictions). The credit equals the difference between taxes on the home's full value and the portion covered by the homeowner's first mortgage. This directly affects homeowners in nonprofit-managed affordable housing units, reducing their annual property tax burden starting June 1, 2026.
SB 829, the "Bring Back Main Street Act," requires certain Maryland counties to permit multifamily developments (buildings with five or more dwelling units sharing common walls) and mixed-use developments (residential plus non-residential uses where non-residential is under 50% of space and limited to first floors) as standard zoning. It prohibits counties from imposing restrictions on these developments, such as limiting height or density, while allowing counties to require a minimum percentage of retail space and on-site parking. The bill directly affects counties, developers, and communities by streamlining approval for housing projects that combine residential and commercial uses. This change aims to increase housing options in areas where such developments were previously restricted under local zoning rules.
