EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1142*
HOUSE BILL 1142
L2 4lr1956
By: Delegates Martinez and Williams
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2024
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Montgomery County and Prince George’s County – Enforcement of Local Vacant 2
Property Laws 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing Montgomery County and Prince George’s County to enforce 4
certain local laws by imposing certain civil and criminal fines and penalties; and 5
generally relating to the enforcement of local laws in Montgomery County and Prince 6
George’s County. 7
BY adding to 8
Article – Local Government 9
Section 12–905 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2013 Volume and 2023 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Local Government 15
12–905. 16
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION, “BUSINESS ENTITY” MEANS A CORPORATION , A 17
PARTNERSHIP , A BUSINESS TRUST , A STATUTORY TRUST , A LIMITED LIABILITY 18
COMPANY, A FIRM, OR AN ASSOCIATION. 19
(2) “BUSINESS ENTITY” INCLUDES: 20
(I) A BANKING INSTITUTIO N, AS DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE 21
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARTICLE; 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1142
(II) A CREDIT UNION, AS DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE FINANCIAL 1
INSTITUTIONS ARTICLE; AND 2
(III) A NONDEPOSITORY MORT GAGE COMPANY . 3
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO: 4
(1) MONTGOMERY COUNTY; AND 5
(2) PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY. 6
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING § 10–202(B) OF THIS ARTICLE , A COUNTY MAY 7
PROVIDE FOR THE ENFO RCEMENT OF AN ORDINA NCE, A RESOLUTION , A BYLAW, OR 8
A REGULATION RELATIN G TO THE MAINTENANCE OF A VACANT DWELLING OR 9
BUILDING OWNED BY A BUSINESS ENTITY AND ADOPTED UNDER TITLE 10, SUBTITLE 10
2 OF THIS ARTICLE: 11
(1) BY CIVIL FINES NOT E XCEEDING: 12
(I) FOR A FIRST VIOLATIO N, $5,000; 13
(II) FOR A SECOND VIOLATI ON WITHIN A 12–MONTH PERIOD , 14
$10,000; AND 15
(III) FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION WITHIN A 12–MONTH 16
PERIOD, $20,000; OR 17
(2) BY CRIMINAL FINES AN D PENALTIES: 18
(I) FOR A FIRST VIOLATIO N, IMPRISONMENT NOT EXC EEDING 6 19
MONTHS OR A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $5,000 OR BOTH; 20
(II) FOR A SECOND VIOLATI ON WITHIN A 12–MONTH PERIOD , 21
IMPRISONMENT NOT EXC EEDING 6 MONTHS OR A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 OR 22
BOTH; AND 23
(III) FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT VIOLATION WITHIN A 12–MONTH 24
PERIOD, IMPRISONMENT NOT EXC EEDING 6 MONTHS OR A FINE NOT EXCEEDING 25
$20,000 OR BOTH. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 27
October 1, 2024. 28