Housing (Property Development)

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1236: Real Property – Prohibition on Restrictions of Accessory Dwelling Units – Historic District Exemption

HB 1236 modifies Maryland law to prevent restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs - secondary housing units on the same property as a primary home) from applying to historic properties. It specifically exempts two categories: (1) properties listed in or eligible for Maryland’s Historic Register, and (2) properties within districts designated as historic under local zoning rules. This means property owners in historic districts can develop or rent ADUs without facing prohibitions based solely on historic designation. The bill does not change general ADU rules outside historic areas but ensures historic preservation rules cannot block ADU development in these zones.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves restrictions on ADUs in historic districts, enabling more housing options and increasing supply without limiting development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Historic Preservation Property Development Zoning

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 894: Land Use - Transit-Oriented Development - Alterations (Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act)

HB 894, the Maryland Transit and Housing Opportunity Act, automatically designates qualifying transit-oriented developments (near rail stations with at least hourly service Monday-Friday 8am-6pm) as enterprise zones, granting tax incentives without separate approval. The bill requires the Maryland Development Corporation to prioritize redevelopment projects near transit in its loan programs and delays certain development fees for residential housing projects. It also changes local land use regulations near transit stations by altering municipal authority to restrict development in these areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill grants tax incentives for transit-oriented developments and delays development fees, directly advancing tax policy and fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAutomatically designates transit-oriented developments as enterprise zones for tax incentives, prioritizes transit-redevelopment in loan programs, and delays residential development fees - directly advancing housing development.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates tax incentives for transit-oriented developments, prioritizes transit-redevelopment in loans, and delays fees for housing near transit, directly advancing public transit infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Land Use Property Development Zoning Rail

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1137: Residential-in-Commercial-Zone Laws - Study (Bring Back Main Street Act)

HB 1137 (the "Bring Back Main Street Act") requires Maryland counties to permit multifamily developments (buildings with 5+ residential units sharing walls) and mixed-use developments (primarily residential with non-residential space limited to under 50% of total floor area, confined to first floors) on certain properties. It prohibits counties from imposing restrictions on these developments, such as limiting building height or density, while allowing counties to require a minimum of 15% of floor space in mixed-use projects to be dedicated to retail uses and to mandate on-site parking. The bill directly affects counties (by changing their zoning authority), developers seeking to build these projects, and property owners on affected parcels. It updates Maryland’s land use code to streamline approval for these development types, aiming to support community revitalization.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires counties to permit multifamily/mixed-use developments, prohibiting density/height restrictions to increase housing supply and advance affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Land Use Property Development Zoning

signed · Maryland · Senate May 12, 2026

SB 818: State Center - Development - Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory Group

SB 818 amends Maryland law to establish new requirements for developing the 28-acre State Center property in Baltimore City. It requires all new or modified development contracts to include an enforceable community benefits agreement with the State Center Neighborhood Alliance, a local hiring plan with job goals, and an economic improvement plan prioritizing minority- and women-owned businesses. The bill also creates a State Center Advisory Group composed of neighborhood associations, anchor institutions, and community organizations within a 1-mile radius to provide community input, leverage neighborhood benefits, and ensure transparency. This directly affects the developer of the State Center project and surrounding Baltimore neighborhoods.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates community benefits agreements, local hiring plans, and minority/women-owned business prioritization in housing development contracts, advancing equitable housing policies.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates local hiring plan with job goals and prioritizes minority/women-owned businesses, directly advancing employment standards and equitable workforce opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 372: Community Development - Maryland New Markets Development Program - Establishment

SB 372 establishes Maryland's New Markets Development Program to incentivize private investment in low-income communities. It creates a refundable tax credit against state income tax and certain insurance taxes for investors who make qualified equity investments in Maryland-based community development entities serving low-income areas. The credit provides 5% of the investment amount for the first three years and 8.75% for the next four years, totaling seven years. This directly affects investors, community development entities, and qualifying low-income businesses that receive capital to support job creation and economic development in underserved areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates refundable tax credits (5-8.75%) for investors in low-income communities, incentivizing private investment through tax relief to fund community development.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates tax credits to incentivize private investment in low-income community development, directly funding affordable housing initiatives in underserved areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Tax Incentives Community Development Property Development Tags Economic Development

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 402: Common Ownership Communities - Oversight, Governing Document Database, and Local Commissions

HB 402 establishes a Common Ownership Community Ombudsman Unit within Maryland's Attorney General's Office to handle complaints from residents of homeowners associations (HOAs), condominiums, and cooperative housing communities about final adverse decisions made by their governing bodies. The unit will monitor relevant laws, provide members with information and referrals to dispute resolution services, and either make determinations about whether decisions violate laws or refer complaints to local county commissions. The bill also requires all common ownership communities to file governing documents with the Department of Housing and Community Development and mandates the department to create a public database of these documents. Annual reports on the unit's activities, including complaint volumes and actions taken, must be submitted to the department and the General Assembly.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes ombudsman unit to resolve disputes in HOAs/condos, strengthening tenant protections against unfair governance decisions85% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Property Development

Track

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 455: Economic Development - Transformational Project Financing Program - Establishment

SB 455 establishes the Transformational Project Financing Program to help local governments fund large-scale development projects in designated areas. It allows counties or cities to apply to the Maryland Economic Development Corporation for "State-supported development district" status, requiring them to redirect property tax increases (tax increment) from these areas into a special fund instead of the general budget. This fund finances projects in priority areas like sustainable communities, transit-oriented developments, and designated enterprise zones. The bill creates new rules for calculating state revenue contributions and managing bond proceeds specifically for these designated districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects property tax increments to a special fund for development projects, promoting targeted fiscal management and strategic spending on priority areas.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates tax increment fund for development projects in sustainable communities, directly supporting housing development priorities without restricting tenant rights or affordability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue Tax Incentives Housing Finance Property Development Property Taxes Tags Economic Development

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 337: School Construction and Housing - School Zones and Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances

HB 337 requires Maryland county school boards to annually submit detailed reports on school zones, student residency locations (without personal identifiers), and school capacity to state planning agencies starting July 1, 2026. It prohibits local "adequate public facilities ordinances" from delaying subdivision or site development plan approvals but allows them to delay final building permits. This directly affects county school boards, housing developers, and local planning departments by standardizing school zone data sharing and clarifying when school capacity rules can impact housing projects. The bill aims to streamline housing development while ensuring school capacity data informs planning.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits local 'adequate public facilities ordinances' from delaying housing subdivision approvals, facilitating faster development without weakening housing access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development Zoning

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 391: Creation of a State Debt – Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2026, and the Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loans of 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025

HB 391 authorizes Maryland to issue $1.824 billion in state debt through a "Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2026" to fund state capital projects. The bill directs proceeds toward building, renovating, and equipping state facilities, acquiring real estate, and providing grants to local governments and organizations for development projects. It requires matching funds from grantees, sets deadlines for project spending, and amends prior bond loan laws (2015-2025) to clarify funding rules and project requirements. The bill does not create new policies but establishes the financial mechanism for state capital investment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $1.824B in state debt for capital projects (facilities, grants), directly advancing fiscal management and infrastructure funding per budget & taxes topic.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllocates $1.824B via grants for local housing development projects through state capital bond loans, directly funding housing-related capital projects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Debt & Bonds State Budget Property Development

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 47: Housing and Community Development - Neighborhood Business Development Program - Local Approval Requirement

SB 47 repeals a requirement that political subdivisions (like cities or counties) must approve business development applications before the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development can approve them. This change directly affects small businesses, nonprofits, and microenterprises seeking financial assistance under the Neighborhood Business Development Program. The key provision removes the need for local government approval, streamlining the application process by allowing the Department to approve projects if no response is received within 45 days. The bill does not alter funding amounts, eligibility criteria, or existing requirements for food desert projects or sustainable communities.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRemoves local approval barrier for housing-related Neighborhood Business Development Program, streamlining access to funding for small businesses and nonprofits supporting community development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Property Development

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