EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LA W. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. *hb0873* HOUSE BILL 873 C9 4lr2596 CF SB 704 By: Delegate Taylor Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024 Assigned to: Environment and Transportation A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning 1 Appraisal Gap From Historic Redlining Financial Assistance Program – 2 Alterations 3 FOR the purpose of expanding eligibility for financial assistance under the Appraisal Gap 4 From Historic Redlining Financial Assistance Program to include individuals who 5 purchase certain qualified property as an owner–occupant; and generally relating to 6 the Appraisal Gap From Historic Redlining Financial Assistance Program. 7 BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8 Article – Housing and Community Development 9 Section 4–2801(a), (e), (g), and (h) 10 Annotated Code of Maryland 11 (2019 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 12 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13 Article – Housing and Community Development 14 Section 4–2802 and 4–2804 15 Annotated Code of Maryland 16 (2019 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 17 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19 Article – Housing and Community Development 20 4–2801. 21 (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 22 (e) “Financial assistance” includes: 23 2 HOUSE BILL 873 (1) a grant; 1 (2) a loan; 2 (3) a reduction in the principal obligation of or rate of interest payable on 3 a loan or portion of a loan; 4 (4) a prepayment of interest on a subordinate or superior loan or portion of 5 a loan; 6 (5) an assurance; 7 (6) a guarantee; and 8 (7) any other form of credit enhancement. 9 (g) “Qualified project” means the construction or substantial rehabilitation of a 10 qualified property if the eligible construction expenses do not exceed $500,000. 11 (h) “Qualified property” means residential real property that is: 12 (1) newly constructed or a formerly vacant structure that has been 13 substantially rehabilitated; 14 (2) located in: 15 (i) a low–income census tract as defined by the U.S. Department of 16 Housing and Urban Development; and 17 (ii) an area designated as a sustainable community; and 18 (3) constructed or rehabilitated with the purpose of being sold to an 19 owner–occupant at an affordable sales price. 20 4–2802. 21 (a) There is an Appraisal Gap From Historic Redlining Financial Assistance 22 Program in the Department. 23 (b) The purpose of the Program is to [make] HELP CLOSE APPRAISAL GAPS 24 THAT OCCUR IN HISTOR ICALLY REDLINE D NEIGHBORHOODS BY M AKING financial 25 assistance available to: 26 (1) affordable housing developers working in low–income census tracts and 27 sustainable communities [in order to help close appraisal gaps that occur in historically 28 redlined neighborhoods]; AND 29 HOUSE BILL 873 3 (2) INDIVIDUALS WHO PURC HASE A QUALIFIED PRO PERTY: 1 (I) AFTER A QUALIFIED PR OJECT IS COMPLETED ; 2 (II) AT AN AFFORDABLE SAL ES PRICE AS DETERMIN ED BY 3 REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT ; AND 4 (III) AS AN OWNER–OCCUPANT. 5 4–2804. 6 (a) Subject to § 4–2805 of this subtitle and the regulations of the [department] 7 DEPARTMENT , the Department shall accept an application for financial assistance from: 8 (1) an individual or business entity that proposes to develop a qualified 9 project; AND 10 (2) AN INDIVIDUAL THAT P ROPOSES TO PURCHASE A QUALIFIED 11 PROPERTY. 12 (b) The application shall be in the form and shall contain any information that 13 the Department requires by regulation. 14 (c) The Department shall approve all applications that qualify for financial 15 assistance under this subtitle in a timely manner. 16 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17 1, 2024. 18