In 2023, the Maryland State Legislature convened on January 11th and adjourned 90 days later on April 10th. Maryland REALTORS® issues a report each year on the Maryland Legislative session to summarize the legislation that affects the real estate industry. As a continuation to past three weeks’ articles, below is the conclusion of items from the report that passed:
HB 830/SB 477 – Residential Construction - Electric Vehicle Charging Effective October 1, 2023: Repeals the requirement that builders (or their agents) provide buyers with the option to include EV equipment in the garage, carport, or driveway. Instead, this bill requires the inclusion of one EVSE-installed or EV-ready parking space in new single-family and townhome units. Requirements to add these spaces during significant renovations of existing homes were removed from the bill, addressing REALTOR® concerns.
HB 102/SB 279 – Actions for Possession - Pet Protections Effective June 1, 2023: On or after November 1, 2023, landlords must include with the lease a link to a fact sheet on the Department of Agriculture’s website if the landlord knows that a tenant possesses a pet.
HB 151 – Real Property - Residential Leases - Notification of Rent Increases Effective October 1, 2023: Landlords must notify a tenant in writing before increasing the tenant's rent through first-class mail or electronic delivery. The notice timelines are 90 days for tenancies over 1 month; 60 days for month-to-month tenancies; and 7 days for weekly tenancies with a written lease.
HB 215/SB 450 – Real Property - Limitations on Summoning Law Enforcement or Emergency Services – Prohibition Effective October 1, 2023: Local laws or ordinances may not penalize a tenant or rental property owner for summoning law enforcement or emergency services to a residential property. Landlords may not include a clause in a lease which includes the same limits or penalties against the tenant.
SB 848 – Statewide Rental Assistance Voucher Program – Establishment Effective October 1, 2023: Establishes a Statewide Rental Assistance Voucher Program in the Department of Housing and Community Development for use by low-income families while they are on the federal voucher waiting list.
SB 90/HB 37 – Commercial Law - Consumer Protection - Telephone Solicitation (Stop the Spam Calls Act of 2023) Effective January 1, 2024: This bill prohibits a person from making a telephone solicitation that involves an automated system for the selection or dialing of telephone numbers or playing a recorded message when the phone is answered, unless prior written consent has been given.
SB 550/HB 548 – Financial Regulation - Maryland Community Investment Venture Fund - Establishment (Access to Banking Act) Effective July 1, 2023: The bill creates the Maryland Community Investment Venture Fund to incentivize banking institutions and credit unions to better serve the needs of residents in low- to moderate-income areas.
Lauren Bunting is a Broker with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.
