FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, APRIL 14
For more information, please contact
Rianna Eckel: rianna@advancemaryland.org, 978-835-6230
Annapolis, MD – Maryland renters, community groups, and advocates led successful legislative campaigns in 2026 that will create more stable homes and stronger communities. This includes passing the Fair Chance in Housing Act (SB 937 / HB 1073), passing a state budget that more than doubles funding for the Community Schools Rental Assistance Program (from $5 million to $11 million), and strengthening Maryland’s fair housing law that protects renting families who use a voucher to pay part of the rent (SB 335 / HB 315).
Yet, the Maryland Senate failed to meet the current moment of economic chaos and rising costs that renting families face. While the House once again passed “Good Cause Eviction” legislation (SB 462 / HB 774) – allowing counties to pass laws that will stop corporate landlords from evicting renters without providing a good reason – the Senate, for the second time in three years, failed to act.
RUM successfully advocated to pass three critical initiatives in the 2026 session and also defeated two bills that would have made renting families less safe in their homes:
- As the Federal Government abandons its role in enforcing civil rights, the Fair Chance in Housing Act (Sen. Henson and Del. Lewis) will place guardrails on when and how corporate landlords can deny someone housing based on long-past criminal records. Everyone deserves a fair chance at accessing housing, and SB 937/HB 1073 will ensure that residents who have served their time will not be automatically denied housing. Advocates remain concerned about how this law will be enforced and hope to work closely with the Maryland Attorney General. Albert Turner, attorney at the Public Justice Center commented: “One of the most humane and easiest ways to ensure our returning citizens do not return to the criminal justice system is to connect them to housing as soon as possible. Fair Chance in Housing gives our returning citizens a pathway to a stable home.”
- Funding to prevent the eviction of 2,500 families with children through the Community Schools Rental Assistance Program. Created in 2024 by legislation sponsored by Sen. Shelly Hettleman and Del. Vaughn Stewart, the Community Schools Rental Assistance Program (CSRAP) helps stop the evictions of families whose children are enrolled in community schools. In 2026, the General Assembly more than doubled (from $5 million to $11 million) the Governor’s budget for CSRAP, which will keep nearly 2,500 families with children from facing eviction and possible homelessness in the coming year. “When families are facing eviction, it’s not just a housing issue, it’s a crisis for our children,” said Tonia Chesnut, member of Progressive Maryland and President of Enclave Tenant Association. “No child can properly focus in school if they are removed from their home and placed in a shelter. In many cases, children lose access to everyday necessities like clothing, food, and school supplies, all while not knowing where they will live next. By increasing funding for the Community Schools Rental Assistance Program, we can help more families remain housed and give children the stability they need to succeed.”
- SB 335/HB 315 (Sen. Love and Del. Stewart) will strengthen Maryland’s fair housing law. This legislation will stop landlords from using arbitrary income and credit tests that have no relationship to a voucher-holding renter’s ability to pay the rent. “By passing HB 315/SB 335, Maryland leaders have recognized that housing assistance is meant to stabilize families and create opportunity and that rental screening practices should support those goals rather than working against them.” said Adria Crutchfield, Executive Director of the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership.
Unfortunately, while Good Cause Eviction once again passed the House, the Senate refused to act for the second time in three years. This bill would have allowed counties to pass laws that require corporate landlords to state the reason for terminating a renting family’s tenancy. Eight states and over 20 localities already have Good Cause. Maryland is one of only five states that does not allow local jurisdictions to pass Good Cause. Good Cause would have supported housing stability and affordability for Maryland families in the midst of economic chaos and an unaffordable market. At least 48 local elected officials supported the bill without any amendment that would have forced localities to effectively choose between good cause and strong rent stabilization. Yet, corporate landlord lobbyists sold Maryland Senate leaders on the false narrative that Good Cause would have a negative impact on housing development – even though this is demonstrably false. RUM extends our sincere appreciation to the bill sponsors, Del. Jheanelle Wilkins and Senator Anthony Muse, for their steadfast leadership.
Renters United Maryland also succeeded in opposing bills that would have hurt Maryland’s renting families:
- HB 59 & HB 847 would have stripped Maryland residents of the right to a fair hearing before an eviction whenever a property owner – often falsely – accused them of squatting.
- SB 589/HB 433 would have given landlords a special exemption from debt collector licensing laws. Debt collectors and landlords need more oversight, not less. We are grateful that this bill did not pass the House of Delegates.
Other notable housing justice legislation from the 2026 Session:
Passed:
- HB 573/SB 274, Fair Housing Disparate Impact Codification, aligns Maryland law with current federal law for certain fair housing cases. The bill ensures that even if the Trump Administration rescinds Obama-era guidance on disparate impact discrimination claims (as proposed this past February), or if SCOTUS retreats from its 2015 Inclusive Communities opinion, Maryland residents will still be protected from discrimination regardless of intent.
- HB 153/SB 12, Air Conditioning Requirements (Del. Lehman/Sen. West) will require apartments that are equipped with air conditioning to maintain a temperature of 80°F or cooler during the summer season. The legislation also requires installation of air conditioning systems in newly constructed or substantially renovated properties. The bill applies to properties with 10 or more residential rental units. “Our senior renters, renters with disabilities, and children struggling with asthma urgently needed this measure,” said Zafar Shah, Advocacy Director for the Human Right to Housing at Maryland Legal Aid. “It will save lives in our increasingly hot summers.” The bill takes effect on June 1.
- SB 729, Mobile Home Residents’ Right to Counsel in Evictions (Sen. Henson), clarifies that Maryland’s landmark Access to Counsel in Evictions law applies to mobile home residents, who own their home but rent the ground that it lies on. The legislation supports the economic stability of thousands of mobile home residents who own their home but face total loss of their asset in an eviction.
- HB1218/SB 941, the Safe and Healthy Homes for All Act (Del. Wilkins, Sen. Henson), requires the state Department of Housing and Community Development and the Office of the Attorney General to identify predatory landlords, to identify multi-family properties throughout Maryland that pose severe health and safety risks, and to create a comprehensive intervention plan. DHCD must report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2027.
Did NOT Pass:
- HB 1456, the Rental Fraud Prevention Act (Del. Embry) would have ensured that internet-based companies verify that anyone posting a property “for rent” is authorized to do so by the owner. This bill is a critical part of any campaign to address “scamlord” operations and protect both renters and property owners. While the bill passed the House with bipartisan support, the Senate refused to take action.
- Tenant Screening Transparency Act – HB 313 (Del Stewart) would have required more transparency from landlords in why they are denying a prospective tenant’s application. The bill passed the House but the Senate refused to take action.
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Renters United Maryland is a coalition of independent non-profit, legal services, tenant organizers, and community-based organizations including Advance Maryland, Baltimore Healthy Start, Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership, Baltimore Renters United, Beyond the Boundaries, CASA, CASH Campaign, Community Development Network, Chesapeake Physicians for Social Responsibility, Community Legal Services, Disability Rights Maryland, Economic Action, Everyday Canvassing, Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake, Health Care for the Homeless, Housing Our Neighbors, Jews United for Justice, Latino Economic Dev. Center, Long Branch Housing Action Team, Maryland Catholic Conference, Maryland Center on Economic Policy, Montgomery County Renters Alliance, NAACP of Maryland, National Coalition for the Homeless, Our Revolution MD, Pro Bono Resource Center, Public Justice Center, Progressive Maryland’s Enclave Tenant Association, Progressive Maryland, 1199 SEIU, Shore Legal Access, Santoni, Vocci, & Ortega, LLC, and Youth Action Board