Housing Justice 2023: Press Kit
Find everything you need to know about Renters United Maryland’s legislative priorities for the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session.
News & Updates
2023 Legislative Priorities
As the Maryland General Assembly begins its 2023 session, 108,000 Maryland households are behind on rent amid rent gouging and economic uncertainty. Renters United is working with legislators and a new governor on 4 priorities for Maryland renters. ASSISTANCE Sustain emergency rental assistance STABILITY Enable local “just cause” eviction protection SAFETY Create a legal tool for tenants to win repairs together… Read More »2023 Legislative Priorities
Shelterforce: Tenant Protections Take a Step Forward in Maryland
Fast-forward one year, and the 2022 legislative session outcome was considerably brighter. RUM again advocated for numerous bills, and this time legislators passed almost all of them—including one that allotted funding for the Access to Counsel in Evictions Program, for which advocates can finally savor their victory.
Governor Hogan vetoes housing and neighborhood stability bills
Tens of thousands of Marylanders and their families are struggling to pay the rent and avoid eviction in the wake of COVID-19. Others are dealing with landlords who refuse to make repairs yet demand higher and higher rents. Governor Hogan, however, turned his back on these families by vetoing SB 384, which would have temporarily paused the eviction process if a tenant had a rental assistance application pending, and SB 563, which would have stopped illegally operating landlord’s from using the court’s eviction process to turn a profit.
Recap: Housing Justice 2022
The legislative session ended last night, and we were on the edge of our seats until about five minutes to midnight. Here’s the rundown of everything Renters United Maryland worked on – not just our 5 priority bills (3 of which passed) but also the many bills that RUM members supported throughout session with testimony, Zoom… Read More »Recap: Housing Justice 2022
Maryland Matters: Opinion: Hogan Urged to Sign Bill That Will Help Some Tenants Facing Eviction
Sen. Shelly Hettleman and Del. Vaughn Stewart introduced HB674/SB384 in this year’s Maryland General Assembly. The Senate bill passed in both chambers and now goes to the desk of the governor.
GGW: Opinion: These Maryland bills would help protect renters and prevent displacement
As Maryland’s General Assembly enters its final 30 days in session for 2022, more than two dozen bills have been proposed that would help renter households. Some of these bills mirror recommendations from the American Bar Association’s recent call for reform of residential eviction procedures.
Maryland Matters: Fair Housing Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Allow Local Just-Cause Eviction Laws
“We are all in constant threat of being told to leave our homes with just 60 days notice,” Bouie said at a Tuesday press conference. “As month-to-month renters, that leaves us wondering each month: Will such a notice arrive on our door?”
Letting local governments require landlords to provide a reason when they choose not to renew a tenant’s lease is a top priority for Renters United Maryland, a fair housing coalition that is asking state lawmakers to allow local governments to enact “just cause” eviction laws in their jurisdictions.
WYPR: State lawmakers push forward another housing justice package
Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, a Montgomery County Democrat, is sponsoring a bill that would require landlords to provide “just cause” if they decide to refuse a lease renewal to a tenant.
Renter advocates have argued that such legislation would close a loophole landlords have used to evict tenants behind on rent.
“It’s absolutely critical that we ensure that renter protections are passed this year,” Wilkins said.