Maryland Legislative
Changes to Maryland Housing Law
There are some big changes coming to Maryland housing law. Here's what you need to know, as these laws go into effect October 1, 2026. Fair Chance Housing Act Limits the use of background checks when someone applies for rental housing. It would ensure that Maryland residents with arrest and conviction histories have a fair chance to secure housing. There are, of course, restrictions on the type of criminal act committed, and other conditions. Go here to read the bill. Fair Housing and Anti-Discrimination Act Includes language that codifies disparate impact liability in Maryland's Fair Housing law that may affect ...
2026 Maryland Consumer Protections Legislative Review
The sky was overcast and gloomy which mirrored the feelings of many economic justice advocates yesterday on Sine Die, the last day of Maryland’s 90 day legislative session. In January, Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk opened the legislative session promising to focus on affordability. Affordability is top of mind for most Marylanders. Our survey of more than 500 Marylanders as well as our tenant and older adult clients, found that 80% said that increase in cost of living has had an impact on their lives with more than 50% cutting back on spending, and nearly 28% ...
Hold Maryland Hospitals Accountable!
With only a few days until the end of the 2026 legislative session, the Maryland Hospital Association (MHA) is pushing forward Senate Bill 890 that would provide a two-year moratorium and pause collection of $25 million in back taxes that hospitals owe. It would also pause requirements that the hospitals pay taxes going forward. Although all Maryland hospitals are nonprofit, it has come to light that 16 nonprofit Maryland hospitals created for-profit insurance subsidiaries in the Cayman Islands. Under Maryland law, the insurance subsidiaries must pay a 3% premium receipt tax on the gross premiums charged for the insurance. These ...
Post Crossover Priorities 2026
End Unfair Debt Practices SB 939/HB1098: Increase the amount of a homeowner’s equity protected from debt collectors. Each passed their chamber of origin and need to be amended to reflect the stronger, Senate amendments before final passage. SB865: Workgroup on the Affordability of Private Passenger Automobile Insurance – Extension and Alteration of Membership and Duties. Passed the Senate, waiting on action in the House. Keep People Housed SB353/HB523: Provide clarity to homeowners facing foreclosure and end zombie mortgage foreclosures. Passed the House, waiting on action in the Senate. SB180/HB213: Expand ability for fair housing organizations to root out discrimination. Passed ...
Act Now! Protect Debtors, Homeowners, and Tenants This Legislative Session!
Monday, March 23 is crossover day for Maryland’s General Assembly. This means that legislation needs to pass out of one chamber and cross to the opposite chamber by midnight on that date to have a good chance of passing this legislative session. Almost all of the bill hearings are done, so the next few days are crucial. Advocates are racing to ensure priority legislation makes it onto committee voting lists, moves out of committee, and passes on the House or Senate floor. All the while, monied interests are working hard to ensure bills die in committee, are weakened to the ...
Working to Keep People Housed in Maryland
Across Maryland, renters struggle to find safe, clean, affordable housing. Currently, landlords and property managers operate within a powerful, often under-regulated system with weak enforcement, loopholes, and structural power imbalances. Economic Action works to provide direct assistance to renters as well as pass legislation in Maryland to expand protections, assistance, and affordability for tenants statewide. This year, we've combined our Fair Housing and Tenant Advocacy programs into one program -- Housing Services, so we'll be able to better coordinate with our Securing Older Adult Resources (SOAR) program and policy work. We have a new Fair Housing Guide for Maryland Landlords. ...
Keep People Housed — Take Action to Pass Key Reforms in 2026!
This past weekend marked the halfway point in Maryland’s 90-day legislative session. As we cross that benchmark, another, more critical deadline looms: March 23. This is crossover day, which means a bill has to have passed out of one chamber and crossed over to the opposite chamber to have a good chance to make it across the finish line this session. Several critical housing bills haven’t been voted on, and we need your help to get them on the vote lists and out of committee as the clock ticks down. Take action today! Corporate landlords and property managers are trying ...
Take Action — Stop Rent Price Fixing in Maryland!
We believe that everyone has the right to safe, affordable housing. For far too many renters across Maryland, prices are out of control. One reason: private equity firms are working with landlords to stack the deck against hard-working Maryland tenants. Private equity firms are using technology to fix prices to squeeze every dollar from renters to increase millionaires' profits. Technology is used to collect data on rental prices and each day it recommends a new price for each empty rental unit using private data. This drives up prices and means one renter may pay a lot more for their apartment ...
Take Action! Stop Predatory Grocery Pricing in Maryland!
Marylanders work hard to put food on the table for their families. But that is getting more and more difficult, as the cost of food continues to rise. Food prices have gone up 29% since February 2020, so it’s no wonder everyone is feeling the strain. Prices are higher and the amount of food purchased is much smaller. Take action to stop predatory pricing today! While there are a number of factors for this, one is simple: corporate greed. Grocery store chains are using reams of personal data to charge people different prices for the same bag of groceries. With ...
Take Action to Protect Tenants! Close the HOME Act Loophole!
Housing vouchers and other rental assistance programs are a lifeline for families struggling to pay their rent. In 2020, Maryland passed the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act, which added Source of Income to the list of protected classes in Maryland. The HOME Act was intended to ensure that landlords do not discriminate against tenants who use these rental assistance programs. Some landlords are exploiting a loophole to the HOME Act and use credit history or income information to refuse to rent to voucher holders. Applying credit and income-based screens to families participating in housing assistance programs is neither relevant nor ...