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 point of doing nothing, or are stymied on the floor as the clock winds down.

Take action today to pass critical bills this legislative session!

We are thrilled that HB523, which establishes a 10-year statute of limitations for foreclosures and protects homeowners from zombie mortgages, has passed the House. But many critical housing and economic justice bills remain in the House Judiciary and Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, waiting for a vote.

Corporations, debt collectors and wealthy landlords have highly paid lobbyists working daily to kill these bills. We depend on you! Your calls and emails are critical to help advance these bills with NO weakening amendments. Priority bills that need to be voted out of one chamber include:

• HB1198 – expands protections for victims of coerced debt including domestic violence survivors, older adults, trafficking victims, and foster youth.
• HB1471 – expands protections for victims of identity theft.
• HB213/SB180 – strengthens fair housing by enabling audio recordings for testing.
• SB274 – strengthens fair housing by including discrimination by effect not just intent (HB573 is moving in the House).
• SB335 – clarifies protections for renters paying for housing with vouchers (HB315 is moving in the House).
• SB353 – establishes 10-year statute of limitations for foreclosures and protects homeowners from zombie foreclosures. It is critical that this bill passes with no weakening amendments so it matches the House bill (HB523 is moving in the House).

Foreclosures and evictions are on the rise, while more and more families have maxed out their credit and are going deeper into debt. Maryland can rise to meet this moment and address the cost-of-living crisis so many households are struggling with – or wait another year to provide families relief. Take action now to urge them to act to help our neighbors and our communities.

If you have a landlord-tenant issue, please go here to download our updated Tenant Guide, any of our fact sheets, or fill out our tenant intake form.