Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 226: Department of Disabilities - Housing Programs and Affiliated Foundations - Establishment

HB 226 requires Maryland's Department of Disabilities to establish affordable and accessible housing programs for people with disabilities. It also allows the department to create affiliated foundations that can raise funds from businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to support housing initiatives, assistive technology, employment accommodations, and community living programs. These foundations operate separately from the state government and cannot be considered state agencies or incur state debt. The bill directly affects individuals with disabilities by expanding access to housing and related support services through these new programs and funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes affordable housing programs for disabled residents and funds through foundations, directly advancing housing access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 343: Housing Development Projects - Housing Counseling Services

HB 343 requires housing development projects receiving state funding to offer HUD-certified housing counseling services to prospective residents. It mandates that these services must be provided by counselors employed by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bill also requires the Governor to appropriate $200,000 annually starting in fiscal year 2028 for community development organizations to partner with approved housing counseling agencies. This directly affects developers receiving state housing funds and prospective residents of subsidized housing projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates $200,000 annual appropriation for housing counseling services, directly funding a public program under budget authority.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates HUD-certified counseling for funded housing projects and allocates $200K annually for counseling services, directly advancing tenant access to housing resources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1132: Condominiums and Homeowners Associations - Resale Contracts - Notice Requirements (Keeping Affordable Housing Affordable Act)

HB 1132 (Keeping Affordable Housing Affordable Act) requires sellers of condominium units or homeowners association properties to provide buyers with specific financial disclosures 20 calendar days before closing - extending the prior 15-day deadline. It mandates written notice of any mandatory fee or payment increases exceeding 10% (or other major changes) after the seller learns of them. The bill affects condo/HOA sellers and buyers by ensuring transparency about future costs like maintenance fees, assessments, and reserve funds. Key provisions include standardized disclosure forms covering current budgets, outstanding dues, insurance, and facility details to help buyers understand long-term housing expenses.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates financial disclosures for condo/HOA sellers to prevent unexpected fee increases, ensuring transparency about future costs to protect affordability for buyers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 768: Department of Human Services - Benefits for Children in Custody - Alterations

HB 768 modifies Maryland law to clarify how the Department of Human Services (DHS) manages benefits (like Social Security or VA payments) for children in its custody. It requires DHS to seek other suitable representatives to manage these benefits before acting as the payee, and mandates that at least 40% of benefits be used for children’s unmet needs (such as disability services, housing, or education) when they are ages 14-15, increasing to 80% at 16-17 and 100% at 18-20. The bill also requires DHS to document all efforts to find alternative payees, periodically review if another representative could better serve the child, and avoid using benefits to cover state care costs. These changes apply specifically to children committed to DHS custody under Maryland’s Family Law.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates 40-100% of benefits for children's unmet needs including housing (ages 14-20), directing funds toward housing support for vulnerable youth.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 153: Residential Rental Apartments - Air-Conditioning Requirement

HB 153 requires landlords to provide air-conditioning in most residential rental units in Maryland under specific conditions. It applies to buildings with four or more dwelling units (excluding historic properties, pre-1950 developments, and certain Baltimore public housing), mandating landlords maintain temperatures at or below 80°F in living areas from June 1 to September 30 each year. New construction must comply starting June 1, 2026, while units with major electrical or heating system upgrades must comply starting October 1, 2026. The law does not apply retroactively to buildings with permits issued before the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates AC in rentals for tenant comfort, directly strengthening tenant protections under housing policy requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 180: Evidence - Interception of Oral Communications - Fair Housing Testing

SB 180 allows fair housing testers working for specific programs (federal, state, local governments, or qualifying nonprofit civil rights organizations) to legally record oral communications during housing tests to document potential discrimination. The bill creates an exception to Maryland's wiretap law, permitting testers to intercept conversations they are party to if the recording is solely for gathering evidence of fair housing violations under federal, state, or local law. Crucially, recordings made under this exception cannot be used as evidence in court or other proceedings except to enforce fair housing laws. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and directly affects fair housing testing organizations and their trained testers.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEnables fair housing testers to legally record discrimination evidence, strengthening enforcement against housing bias per federal/state fair housing laws.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 523: Real Property - Residential Foreclosures - Commencement Restrictions

HB 523 (Real Property - Residential Foreclosures - Commencement Restrictions) delays foreclosure actions on residential properties by requiring a 90-day waiting period after a default or notice of intent to foreclose, whichever is later. It directly affects homeowners facing foreclosure and mortgage lenders by adding this waiting period, with limited exceptions for fraud, no payments, property destruction, bankruptcy, or vacant properties. Key provisions include mandatory affidavits verifying default details and notice accuracy, a $450 filing fee, and requirements for loss mitigation documentation. The bill modifies Maryland's foreclosure law to provide additional time for homeowners to seek alternatives before a foreclosure case can proceed.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingDelays residential foreclosures by 90 days, protecting homeowners from rapid housing loss and strengthening tenant/homeowner security during financial hardship.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Maryland · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SB 274: Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination - Regulations and Discriminatory Effect

SB 274 updates Maryland's fair housing laws to address discriminatory practices regardless of intent. It defines "discriminatory effect" as actions creating segregated housing patterns based on protected characteristics like race, disability, or sexual orientation, even without malicious intent. The bill requires housing authorities and political subdivisions to actively "affirmatively further fair housing" and prohibits practices with disparate impacts on protected groups. These changes apply to all housing providers, landlords, and government entities involved in housing decisions. The law removes intent as a defense for discriminatory housing practices, aligning enforcement with federal standards.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing discrimination by defining discriminatory effect and requiring affirmative fair housing action, strengthening tenant protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 11, 2026

HB 1259: Zoning Authorities - Operation of Family Child Care Homes - Prohibitions and Requirements

HB 1259 prohibits local Maryland jurisdictions (counties and Baltimore City) from denying or restricting family child care homes that meet state licensing requirements, including limiting the number of children below state standards. It requires local governments to classify these homes as residential activities and permit them under residential zoning rules. The bill amends Maryland's land use code to ensure consistency with state licensing standards and prevent local zoning barriers for licensed child care providers. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves zoning barriers for family child care homes, enabling residential use under state licensing standards and preventing local restrictions on housing development.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 10, 2026

HB 1353: Homeless Individuals - Fee and Examination Exemptions

HB 1353 exempts homeless individuals in Maryland from specific fees and requirements. It prohibits the Maryland Department of Health from charging for vital records (like birth or death certificates) issued to homeless people, waives vehicle registration fees for vehicles owned by homeless individuals, and eliminates driver’s license fees for homeless applicants. The bill also allows unaccompanied homeless youth under 18 to take certain driver’s license exams sooner and exempts homeless individuals from mandatory vehicle emissions inspections. Homeless individuals must provide a written statement proving their homelessness to access these exemptions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts homeless individuals from state fees (vital records, vehicle registration, driver's licenses), reducing government revenue and providing fiscal relief for low-income residents.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts homeless individuals from fees for vital records, vehicle registration, and driver's licenses, directly addressing homelessness to improve housing access and stability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Housing

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