HB 1516 transfers administration of Maryland's electric universal service program from the Public Service Commission to the Office of Home Energy Programs within the Department of Human Services. It also expands the Strategic Energy Investment Fund to cover fuel assistance programs, including weatherization for low-income households. The bill directly affects low-income residents with annual incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level who receive energy bill assistance. Key provisions include requiring the new Office to implement the electric universal service program and continuing the weatherization component previously managed by the Department of Housing and Community Development. The changes aim to streamline administration under one agency while maintaining existing eligibility and service mechanisms.
HB 1547 modifies Maryland's lead risk reduction requirements for property owners in housing. It requires owners to complete specific lead hazard reduction measures - such as inspecting paint, repairing peeling paint, covering lead-based paint on windows, and cleaning after repairs - within 30 days of receiving written notice about a person at risk (e.g., a child with elevated blood lead levels) or a reported defect. The bill updates the timeline for compliance, adjusting the conditions under which the "modified risk reduction standard" must be met based on the date of blood lead testing or defect notification. This affects owners of housing properties where lead hazards are present and a person at risk is identified.
SB 501 requires Washington County and its municipalities to grant a 100% property tax credit for real property owned by Platoon 22, Incorporated, specifically when that property is used to provide housing for veterans. The bill amends Maryland's tax code to mandate this credit by law, directly affecting only Platoon 22's taxable property within Washington County. The credit covers the full amount of county and municipal property tax on qualifying veteran housing properties. This policy change applies to all taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.
HB 1218 requires Maryland's Department of Housing and Community Development (specifically its Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs) to develop a plan identifying rental properties with repeated health and safety violations (like chronic code failures, severe distress, or unaddressed hazards) and to outline interventions for landlords. The plan must establish how to identify these properties (via tenant reports, local agencies, or tenant groups), detail specific actions like fines, corrective deadlines, mandatory repairs, pest control, and temporary tenant relocation, and include recommendations for legal changes. It mandates the department submit this plan to the Governor and General Assembly by August 31, 2027, after which the bill expires on December 31, 2027. This directly affects tenants living in unsafe housing and negligent landlords of multi-unit rentals.
SB 850 requires Maryland electric and gas companies (including midsize cooperatives after 2026) to design energy efficiency, conservation, and demand response programs that demonstrably lower residential customer bills. It mandates the Public Service Commission to establish caps on certain assessments and set deadlines for eliminating unpaid utility costs. The law ensures programs must include measurable bill savings for households, not just energy reductions, and requires annual reports tracking energy savings and emissions reductions from these programs. This directly affects all residential utility customers in Maryland by linking program requirements to tangible cost savings.
HB 1475 requires merchants selling goods or services to disclose when prices are set using algorithms that analyze personal data, mandating a clear statement: "THIS PRICE WAS SET BY AN ALGORITHM USING YOUR PERSONAL DATA." It also prohibits residential landlords or property managers from using software, data analytics, or algorithms to coordinate rent adjustments or lease terms across multiple properties. Violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, subject to enforcement and penalties. The bill directly affects businesses using dynamic pricing and rental property owners/managers utilizing algorithmic tools for pricing decisions.
HB 1538, the Maryland Generational Housing Act of 2026, requires Maryland counties and municipalities to adopt local laws by October 1, 2026, permitting at least one internal accessory dwelling unit (ADU, like a converted basement) and one external ADU (like a backyard cottage) on single-family residential properties. The bill directly affects homeowners, local governments, and utility providers by prohibiting localities from imposing off-street parking requirements on ADUs, banning utility fees for shared meters/services, and exempting ADUs from property taxes. Key provisions include removing ADUs from density calculations for zoning purposes and ensuring they meet basic safety standards without requiring additional parking. This law aims to increase housing options for multi-generational households while streamlining development for existing single-family lots.
HB 1249 prohibits certified recovery residences in Maryland from refusing services to individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder or requiring them to stop or change their MAT as a condition for housing. The bill amends certification standards for recovery residences (which provide non-clinical housing for people with substance use disorders) to ensure credentialing entities cannot allow such discrimination. It directly affects certified recovery residences and individuals using MAT for opioid addiction, requiring certification rules to explicitly ban these practices. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to opioid use disorder treatment under MAT.
HB 983 modifies Maryland's tax credit programs and exemptions. It terminates the Enterprise Zone Program and the One Maryland Economic Development Tax Credit Program on specific dates, ending eligibility for related tax benefits. The bill also limits annual claims for enterprise zone tax credits, restricts carryforwards for film production tax credits, and repeals sales tax exemptions for concrete, telecom equipment, and construction materials. Additionally, it alters eligibility rules for certain vehicle tax credits and ends property tax credits tied to enterprise zones.
HB 1550 proposes to repeal Maryland’s eminent domain authority by removing the state’s legal power to seize private property for public use. It would eliminate specific provisions across multiple Maryland Code articles (including Public Utilities, Real Property, and Transportation) that govern condemnation procedures, quick-take mechanisms, and redevelopment projects. This bill directly affects property owners who could no longer face state-led property seizures, as well as state agencies and developers relying on eminent domain for infrastructure or redevelopment. The measure also includes constitutional amendments to formally end this authority, requiring voter approval to take effect.
