As the 2025 legislative session gets started, our coalition is continuing to fight for housing justice issues that are impacting renters across Maryland each and every day. While we’ve made progress over the last few years and seen our collective power grow, there is still more that the Maryland General Assembly needs to do to ensure that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and stable housing. This is essential for keeping people housed and rooted in their communities.
This legislative session, Renters United Maryland and our partners are pushing to pass key housing justice legislation and protect past wins. While we’ll be tracking many housing bills, the majority of our focus will be on:
Local Enabling Legislation for Good Cause Eviction: This legislation would allow counties to adopt “Good Cause Eviction” (aka “just cause”) laws if they so choose. Landlords often refuse to renew leases when renters organize for their rights, demand that repairs be made, or complain about violations of the law. “Good Cause” laws protect renters from this kind of retaliation and promote housing stability for tenants, neighborhoods and communities.
The Tenant Possessions Recovery Act: This legislation would bring Maryland into line with 46 other states in providing renters some standard notice of eviction and an opportunity to reclaim their possessions if they are evicted.
Securing funding for eviction prevention: Last year, the General Assembly allocated $10 million to prevent evictions and homelessness for thousands of Maryland families. Additional advocacy is needed to ensure that this funding continues to be included in the state’s budget moving forward.
Maintaining funding for right to counsel: The Access to Counsel in Evictions Program was initially funded temporarily with $14 million. This is an extremely effective program that has already helped thousands of families across Maryland in its first year. We’re calling on the legislature to make this funding a permanent line item in the state’s budget.
Please use this form to contact your legislators and the leadership of the Maryland General Assembly and tell them to take action to protect renters and keep people rooted in their communities. Once you’ve taken action, share this link with your networks – we need legislators to hear from as many Marylanders as possible!