Legislative News

View from Annapolis – REALTOR® Priorities by The Numbers 

2/23/2023

Looking for an update on our 2023 REALTOR® Priority Legislation? Look no further! Our advocacy priorities for both industry operations and housing supply are making their way through the General Assembly.

View from Annapolis – Housing Briefing Edition

2/21/2023

On January 17, Maryland REALTORS® got into the business of selling housing…to the General Assembly, that is. 

The newly re-named Senate Education, Energy and the Environment Committee held a briefing for new and returning members on the state of Affordable Housing in Maryland.  

Maryland REALTORS® for Accessory Dwelling Units 2023

2/2/2023

Learn more about our recent ADU campaign.

General Assembly Provides Housing Help for Marylanders

11/28/2022

General Assembly Provides Housing Help for Marylanders

The General Assembly considers and approves legislation on any number of subjects each year. However, only a handful of issues get attention in the media.  As a future or current homeowner, you may be wondering what our officials in Annapolis accomplished on housing this year.

Source of Income - It's Not Just for Rentals!

10/13/2022

In 2020, the General Assembly passed legislation to expand Source of Income as a protected class statewide. While many are aware of the implications that Source of Income protections have for property management, it also applies to real estate purchase transactions.

The Maryland Real Estate Commission recently released guidance for licensees for compliance with the state’s Source of Income regulations.

View from Annapolis - New Laws Effective Oct 1

9/30/2022

The wait for REALTOR® priority legislation is finally over. On October 1, 2022, our Pay at the Table and CE Affidavit bills are in full effect, along with other real estate measures supported by Maryland REALTORS®.

Housing Supply – Are Planners Leading the Way?

9/27/2022

The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) summer conference is most known for its unofficial and after-hours lineup of receptions and fundraisers for the political set. Between all of that, attendees manage to sneak in an educational session or two.

View from Annapolis - New Laws Effective July 1

7/12/2022

July 1 is the second milestone of the annual new laws calendar. On this date, most budgetary, tax, and revenue bills go into effect.

The following are bills reviewed by Maryland REALTORS® with July 1 effective dates

Meeting the Market - Maryland Mortgage Program Announces New Offerings

7/12/2022

“In this challenging housing climate, when interest rates are increasing and affordable housing inventory is low,  the state of Maryland is always looking for innovative offerings to make homeownership affordable."

For FY 23, that includes an increase in base downpayment assistance of $6,000 and other program enhancements.

View from Annapolis - Veto Edition

6/14/2022

Sometimes, a bill can pass yet still fail. Such is the fate of the unlucky legislative initiatives which make it all the way through the General Assembly only to receive a Gubernatorial veto.

Among the 18 policy vetoes issued on May 27 were two landlord-tenant bills tracked by Maryland REALTORS®.

View from Annapolis - New Laws Effective June 1

6/1/2022

Since the end of the 2022 General Assembly session, Governor Hogan has signed 427 pieces of legislation into law and allowed another 294 to go into effect without his signature.

Several of those measures, mostly tax-related, go into effect on June 1. Here is a look at those impacting the industry.

View From Annapolis - Breaking Down the Biden Housing Plan

5/18/2022

On May 16, the Biden Administration announced the Housing Supply Action Plan, a blueprint to help close the under-supply of housing in the next five years. The plan has several moving parts, but how do those stack up to REALTOR® priorities at the state and federal levels?

View from Annapolis - D.C. Edition

5/4/2022

This week, Maryland REALTORS® took our advocacy efforts on the road to Washington D.C. as part of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Legislative Meetings.

During the meetings, REALTORS® pushed for several bi-partisan initiatives to promote additional housing supply and Fair Housing enforcement.

View from Annapolis - Week 14

4/15/2022

Sine Die (adj.) - A term of Latin origin which signals the final adjournment of legislative body. Often accompanied by cheers, tears, and utter exhaustion.

Midnight on Monday, April 11, marked Sine Die, the official end of the 2022 General Assembly Session. Like in past years, it featured its share of REALTOR® wins, some losses, and more than a couple key amendments which changed the status of industry bills.

View from Annapolis - Week 13

4/6/2022

Add two to the win column!

In a week dominated by partisan wrangling over redistricting, two pieces of REALTOR® Priority Legislation passed the General Assembly and are on their way to the Governor’s desk.

View from Annapolis - Week 12

3/31/2022

If you were summarizing what the General Assembly has been working on since crossover, the answer would be both everything and nothing at all.

Let us explain.

IS ALL OF YOUR ADVERTISING COMPLIANT WITH THE LAW?

3/23/2022

The Maryland Real Estate Commission is attempting to better enforce ALL advertising compliance with the law, this includes digital as well so that no advertising is misleading to the public.  Most recently, March 7th, in an effort to clarify this for ALL advertising the Commission finalized the regulation “Relations to the Public,” specifically as it pertains to digital advertising and detailed below with an explanation – also known as the one-click rule (Md. Code Regs. 09.11.02.01).  It also provides additional guidance on team advertising.

View from Annapolis - Week 11

3/23/2022

Deep breath.

The period immediately after Crossover gives advocacy groups like Maryland REALTORS® a brief moment to take stock of legislation and gear up for the final three weeks of the session.

NAR, VA Partner to Better Serve Those Who Serve Us

3/22/2022

The National Association of Realtors®, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has released a two-part educational video series on the VA Home Loan Guaranty Program, designed to help Realtors® better serve veteran and active duty homebuyers achieving homeownership with VA loans.

View from Annapolis – Week 10

3/17/2022

The countdown to Crossover is on!

Next Monday, March 21 is the day where the House and Senate complete work on bills that originated in their respective bodies and begin to consider legislation that has passed from the opposite chamber.

One of our REALTOR® Priority Bills is set to be on that list.

Accessory Dwelling Units FAQs

3/10/2022

Read more about Accessory Dwelling Units regarding HB 1259 and SB 871 FAQs.

View from Annapolis – Week 9

3/9/2022

If you’re following the progress of industry legislation through our 2022 Legislative Status Report, you may be feeling like a lot of bills are at a standstill. You also wouldn’t be alone in that assessment.

Thankfully for REALTORS®, that is NOT the case with two of our Priority Bills.

View from Annapolis – Week 8

3/2/2022

REALTOR® bills are on the move! This week saw initial General Assembly Committee approval of two of our priority bills.

On Monday, the House Economic Matters Committee voted favorably on HB 807, allowing affidavits as a form of ID for online CE classes. That was followed late Tuesday by a Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs vote in favor of SB 425, to continue the practice of paying real estate commissions at settlement. Both will now move to the floor of their respective bodies for second reading and final consideration.

View from Annapolis – Week 7

2/23/2022

For NFL players, there’s no bigger day than the Super Bowl. For professional actors, it’s the Oscars.

For your Maryland REALTORS® Advocacy Team, it was Tuesday, February 22.

Beginning at 1:00 PM, Maryland REALTORS® provided testimony on 23 separate pieces of real estate legislation across five different House and Senate Committees.

View from Annapolis – Week 6

2/16/2022

General Assembly Math:

Take 700 newly-introduced bills, add 25 Committee hearings, plus 108 visits with legislators, and you get 1 very busy week at the General Assembly.

2022 Lobby Day Information

2/10/2022

Click here for 2022 Lobby Day Issues Summary

Parking Information

Emphasis for each Member by District:

District 01            District 11            District 21            District 31            District 41

District 02            District 12            District 22            District 32            District 42

District 03            District 13            District 23            District 33            District 43

District 04            District 14            District 24            District 34            District 44

District 05            District 15            District 25            District 35            District 45

District 06            District 16            District 26            District 36            District 46

District 07            District 17            District 27            District 37            District 47

District 08            District 18            District 28            District 38            

District 09           District 19            District 29            District 39            

District 10            District 20            District 30            District 40            

View from Annapolis – Week 5

2/8/2022

2,100 bills.

REALTORS® heading to the state house.

And the General Assembly going green?

These are the trends we’re watching in week five of the 2022 session.

View from Annapolis – Week 4

2/2/2022

Fast and furious. That’s the current pace of bill introduction in the General Assembly.

Since our last update, the House and Senate have added an additional 700 bills to our running 2022 total. Included among those are several REALTOR® priorities but also others where we will offer strong opposition.

View from Annapolis – Week 3

1/25/2022

Eight hundred bills and counting! The General Assembly continues to introduce new legislation daily as the House and Senate head toward key bill filing deadlines in early February. The Maryland REALTORS® Legislative Committee is currently following 51 of those bills for their impacts on the real estate industry including mold inspections, well water safety and septic system permitting. 

View from Annapolis – Week 2

1/19/2022

Heading into the second week of the 2022 General Assembly session, full gatherings of the House and Senate have been limited due to pandemic precautions. However, Committees have commenced a full slate of hearings on pending legislation. 

View from Annapolis - Week 1

1/12/2022

Wednesday, January 12, marks the beginning of another General Assembly session in Annapolis. It also signals the beginning of Maryland REALTORS® advocacy efforts on behalf of our members and Maryland homeowners.  

Summary of Key Real Estate Issues Considered in 2021 Maryland General Assembly

4/19/2021

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned for the year on April 12th.  Click the attachment for a review of the status of key real estate issues.

Maryland REALTORS® Releases First Annual State of Maryland Housing Report

2/26/2021

Maryland Housing Affordability Report FINAL (Dec 2020)

June 25th Property Management Webinar Documents

6/25/2020

Click below for some of the court documents referenced in the June 25th Property Management Webinar.

June 25th Webinar CARES Act Compliance Form and Background

6/25/2020

Court CARES form required for filing landlord tenant actions.

Governor's Proclamations, Orders and Interpretive Guidance

4/1/2020

Links to the proclamations and orders issued by Governor Larry Hogan related to COVID-19, along with interpretive guidance (IG) from the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel.  The most recent Interpretive Guidance  IG (20-04-05-02) addresses the empowerment of local county health officials -- working with law enforcement -- to urge businesses/organizations that are NOT COMPLYING properly with Stay-at-home Order and social distancing to modify practices in order to comply and minimize risk or else close/shut down business/organization.

Leadership/Volunteer Professional Development Resources (CS)

3/29/2017

Whether you’re new to the board of directors, already in an association leadership role, or are considering a volunteer position, this online course in the  REALTOR® Leadership Program will give you the necessary tools to make your experience positive and rewarding.