The 2024 General Assembly closed with the passage of critical bills that advance housing justice, including the Tenant Safety Act (HB 1117 / SB 946) and $10 million allocated to prevent evictions and homelessness for thousands of Maryland families.
Renter power in Annapolis was central to both of these wins. Renters held press conferences and rallies in Annapolis, testified at hearings, and were present for voting sessions – all to make sure legislators were doing the work of the people. Read about these victories and outcomes on other bills below and in our press release.
SAFETY
The passage of the Tenant Safety Act (HB 1117 / SB 946) will empower tenants to hold negligent landlords accountable to fix conditions that threaten the life, health, or safety of their families. The act will allow tenants in the same building to join together in a suit; set the expectation that the Court will reduce the rent if the landlord is negligent, and level the playing field with landlords by providing greater access to legal counsel for renters.
EVICTION PREVENTION FUNDS
The General Assembly allocated $10 million to prevent evictions and homelessness for thousands of Maryland families. HB 428 / SB 370 will direct $5 million in eviction prevention funds to families with children, along with another $5 million in the FY 2025 budget. This legislation follows recent report findings that investing in this kind of eviction prevention more than pays for itself because it reduces homelessness and state-funded safety net costs related to shelter, educating students experiencing homelessness, health care, foster care, decreased incarceration, and the economic impacts of increased employment and income stability.
STABILITY
The Maryland Senate missed a key opportunity to protect renters’ stability when it refused to vote on legislation passed by the House of Delegates (HB 477) that would have allowed counties to pass their own “good cause eviction” bills. Good cause eviction ensures housing stability for renters by requiring a landlord to state a good reason for any eviction. Without good cause eviction, landlords subject more than 6,000 families each year to no-cause evictions – which are a non-transparent way for some landlords to retaliate or discriminate against tenants to assert their rights. Based on the best available research, Maryland is only one of six states in the country that prohibits counties from enacting their own good cause eviction law. Yet, the Senate, led by Senate President Bill Ferguson and Judicial Proceedings Committee Chair Will Smith, refused to hold a vote despite compelling testimony from renters, local lawmakers, and community groups eager to protect families in their communities.
FAIRNESS
The Tenant Possessions Recovery Act (SB 992 / HB 1114) would have brought Maryland into line with 46 other states in providing renters some notice and opportunity to reclaim their possessions if they are evicted. Neither chamber held a vote on the Tenant Possessions Recovery Act.