Maryland House Bill HB190

Maryland 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/19/23
• Refer: 1/19/23
• Report Pass: 4/10/23

Caption

Housing and Community Development - Homeowner's Extreme Weather Mitigation and Preparation Grant Program

Impact

The bill mandates the allocation of funds starting at $5,000,000 for the program each fiscal year beginning in 2025. Homeowners may apply for nonmatching grants up to $5,000, with criteria set for household income and insurance coverage of the property. Local governments and nonprofits can also apply for matching grants to assist projects that protect single-family homes, which further extends the program's impact to a wider community level beyond just individual homeowners.

Summary

House Bill 190 establishes the Homeowner's Extreme Weather Mitigation and Preparation Grant Program aimed at assisting homeowners, local governments, and nonprofit organizations in preparing and repairing residential properties to mitigate water damage caused by extreme weather events. This program will be administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development and will make available funding for various mitigation projects intended to prevent significant environmental damage to residences, particularly focusing on water damage.

Contention

Discussion around HB 190 may center on the appropriate level of funding and oversight required for such programs, as well as concerns that the grant application process could be prohibitive for some homeowners without adequate support or resources. Some members may argue about the potential for bureaucratic inefficiencies in grant distribution and whether local governments have the capacity to effectively implement these programs designed to assist vulnerable populations against climate-related impacts.