Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB1557 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb1557
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 1557
8	8	N1, I2, I1 EMERGENCY BILL 5lr3637
9	9
10	10	By: Delegate Feldmark
11	11	Rules suspended
12	12	Introduced and read first time: March 11, 2025
13	13	Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
14	14
15	15	A BILL ENTITLED
16	16
17	17	AN ACT concerning 1
18	18
19	19	Program to Protect Individuals Unemployed or Furloughed Due to Federal 2
20	20	Actions – Establishment 3
21	21
22	22	FOR the purpose of establishing the Program to Protect Individuals Unemployed or 4
23	23	Furloughed Due to Federal Actions; requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to 5
24	24	administer the Program; establishing certain consumer protections relating to debt 6
25	25	collection, consumer credit reporting, loan payments, payments for certain utility 7
26	26	services, foreclosure and failure to pay rent actions, and tax sales of certain dwellings 8
27	27	for individuals who are unemployed or furloughed as a result of certain federal 9
28	28	actions; applying certain provisions of this Act retroactively; and generally relating 10
29	29	to the Program to Protect Individuals Unemployed or Furloughed Due to Federal 11
30	30	Actions. 12
31	31
32	32	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 13
33	33	Article – Commercial Law 14
34	34	Section 14–201, 14–1212.1(b)(2)(i) and (ii) and (c)(5), and 14–1225 15
35	35	Annotated Code of Maryland 16
36	36	(2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 17
37	37
38	38	BY adding to 18
39	39	Article – Commercial Law 19
40	40	Section 14–202.1 and 14–1212.4 20
41	41	Annotated Code of Maryland 21
42	42	(2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 22
43	43
44	44	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 23
45	45	Article – Commercial Law 24
46	46	Section 14–1203 25
47	47	Annotated Code of Maryland 26
48	48	(2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 27 2 HOUSE BILL 1557
49	49
50	50
51	51
52	52	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 1
53	53	Article – Financial Institutions 2
54	54	Section 1–101(a), (d), (i), (j), and (n), 8–101(a) and (i), 11–501(a), (c), (k), (l), and (n), 3
55	55	and 11–601(a) and (q) 4
56	56	Annotated Code of Maryland 5
57	57	(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 6
58	58
59	59	BY adding to 7
60	60	Article – Financial Institutions 8
61	61	Section 5–514, 6–606.1, 9–409, 11–501(b–1), 11–522, and 11–605.1 9
62	62	Annotated Code of Maryland 10
63	63	(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 11
64	64
65	65	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 12
66	66	Article – Public Utilities 13
67	67	Section 1–101(a), (d), and (z) 14
68	68	Annotated Code of Maryland 15
69	69	(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 16
70	70
71	71	BY adding to 17
72	72	Article – Public Utilities 18
73	73	Section 7–307.5 19
74	74	Annotated Code of Maryland 20
75	75	(2020 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 21
76	76
77	77	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 22
78	78	Article – Real Property 23
79	79	Section 7–105.1(a)(1) and (8), (b–1), (q), and (s) and 8–401(a) and (d) 24
80	80	Annotated Code of Maryland 25
81	81	(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 26
82	82
83	83	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 27
84	84	Article – Real Property 28
85	85	Section 7–105.1(a)(12) 29
86	86	Annotated Code of Maryland 30
87	87	(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 31
88	88
89	89	BY adding to 32
90	90	Article – Real Property 33
91	91	Section 7–105.1(a)(12) and (13) and (b–2), 8–121, and 8–401(d–1) 34
92	92	Annotated Code of Maryland 35
93	93	(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 36
94	94
95	95	BY adding to 37
96	96	Article – State Government 38 HOUSE BILL 1557 3
97	97
98	98
99	99	Section 9–4101 through 9–4105 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 41. Program 1
100	100	to Protect Individuals Unemployed or Furloughed Due to Federal Actions” 2
101	101	Annotated Code of Maryland 3
102	102	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 4
103	103
104	104	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 5
105	105	Article – Tax – Property 6
106	106	Section 1–101(a) and (e) 7
107	107	Annotated Code of Maryland 8
108	108	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 9
109	109
110	110	BY adding to 10
111	111	Article – Tax – Property 11
112	112	Section 14–811(j) 12
113	113	Annotated Code of Maryland 13
114	114	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 14
115	115
116	116	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 15
117	117	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 16
118	118
119	119	Article – Commercial Law 17
120	120
121	121	14–201. 18
122	122
123	123	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
124	124
125	125	(b) “Collector” means a person collecting or attempting to collect an alleged debt 20
126	126	arising out of a consumer transaction. 21
127	127
128	128	(c) “Consumer transaction” means any transaction involving a person seeking or 22
129	129	acquiring real or personal property, services, money, or credit for personal, family, or 23
130	130	household purposes. 24
131	131
132	132	(d) “Person” includes an individual, corporation, business trust, statutory trust, 25
133	133	estate, trust, partnership, association, two or more persons having a joint or common 26
134	134	interest, or any other legal or commercial entity. 27
135	135
136	136	14–202.1. 28
137	137
138	138	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING TERMS HAVE THE MEANINGS 29
139	139	INDICATED. 30
140	140
141	141	(2) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–4101 31
142	142	OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 32
143	143	4 HOUSE BILL 1557
144	144
145	145
146	146	(3) “QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLA N” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 1
147	147	9–4101 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 2
148	148
149	149	(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A QUALIFIED INDIV IDUAL WHO 3
150	150	SUBMITS TO A COLLECTOR : 4
151	151
152	152	(1) VERIFICATION THAT THE CONSUMER IS A QUALIF IED 5
153	153	INDIVIDUAL; AND 6
154	154
155	155	(2) A QUALIFIED PAYMENT PL AN. 7
156	156
157	157	(C) A COLLECTOR: 8
158	158
159	159	(1) SHALL ACCEPT PARTIAL PAYMENTS FOR AN ALLEGED DEBT FROM 9
160	160	A QUALIFIED INDIVIDU AL; AND 10
161	161
162	162	(2) MAY NOT: 11
163	163
164	164	(I) IMPOSE A LATE FEE OR PENALTY ON AN ALLEGED DEBT 12
165	165	OWED BY A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ; OR 13
166	166
167	167	(II) REPOSSESS PROPERTY FR OM A QUALIFIED INDIV IDUAL. 14
168	168
169	169	14–1203. 15
170	170
171	171	(a) Except as authorized under subsection (b) of this section, no consumer 16
172	172	reporting agency may make any consumer report containing any of the following items of 17
173	173	information: 18
174	174
175	175	(1) Bankruptcies which, from date of adjudication of the most recent 19
176	176	bankruptcy, antedate the report by more than 10 years; 20
177	177
178	178	(2) Suits and judgments which, from date of entry, antedate the report by 21
179	179	more than seven years or until the governing statute of limitations has expired, whichever 22
180	180	is the longer period; 23
181	181
182	182	(3) Paid tax liens which, from date of payment, antedate the report by more 24
183	183	than seven years; 25
184	184
185	185	(4) Accounts placed for collection or charged to profit and loss which 26
186	186	antedate the report by more than seven years; 27
187	187
188	188	(5) Records of arrest, indictment, or conviction of crime which, from date of 28
189	189	disposition, release, or parole, antedate the report by more than seven years; or 29
190	190	HOUSE BILL 1557 5
191	191
192	192
193	193	(6) Any other adverse item of information which antedates the report by 1
194	194	more than seven years. 2
195	195
196	196	(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section are not applicable in the case of 3
197	197	any consumer credit report to be used in connection with: 4
198	198
199	199	(1) A credit transaction involving, or which may reasonably be expected to 5
200	200	involve, a principal amount of $150,000 or more; 6
201	201
202	202	(2) The underwriting of life insurance involving, or which may reasonably 7
203	203	be expected to involve, a face amount of $150,000 or more; or 8
204	204
205	205	(3) The employment of any individual at an annual salary which equals, or 9
206	206	which may reasonably be expected to equal, $75,000 or more. 10
207	207
208	208	(C) NO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY MAY MAKE ANY CONSUMER 11
209	209	REPORT CONTAINING AD VERSE CREDIT INFORMA TION FOR A CONSUMER WHILE THE 12
210	210	CONSUMER IS A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL , AS DEFINED IN § 9–4101 OF THE STATE 13
211	211	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 14
212	212
213	213	14–1212.1. 15
214	214
215	215	(b) (2) This section does not apply to: 16
216	216
217	217	(i) A check services or fraud prevention services company that 17
218	218	issues: 18
219	219
220	220	1. Reports on incidents of fraud; or 19
221	221
222	222	2. Authorizations for the purpose of approving or processing 20
223	223	negotiable instruments, electronic funds transfers, or similar payment methods; 21
224	224
225	225	(ii) A deposit account information service company that issues 22
226	226	reports regarding account closures due to fraud, substantial overdrafts, automated teller 23
227	227	machine abuse, or similar negative information regarding a consumer to inquiring banks 24
228	228	or other financial institutions for use only in reviewing a consumer request for a deposit 25
229	229	account at the inquiring bank or financial institution; or 26
230	230
231	231	(c) (5) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a consumer 27
232	232	reporting agency is not required to place a security freeze on a consumer report if the 28
233	233	consumer reporting agency: 29
234	234
235	235	1. Acts only as a reseller of credit information by assembling 30
236	236	and merging information contained in a database of another consumer reporting agency or 31
237	237	multiple consumer reporting agencies; and 32
238	238	6 HOUSE BILL 1557
239	239
240	240
241	241	2. Does not maintain a permanent database of credit 1
242	242	information from which new consumer reports are produced. 2
243	243
244	244	(ii) A consumer reporting agency that acts as a reseller of credit 3
245	245	information shall honor a security freeze placed on a consumer report by another consumer 4
246	246	reporting agency. 5
247	247
248	248	14–1212.4. 6
249	249
250	250	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 7
251	251	INDICATED. 8
252	252
253	253	(2) “ADVERSE INFORMATION F REEZE” MEANS A RESTRICTION 9
254	254	PLACED ON A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S RECORD IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HIS 10
255	255	SECTION THAT PROHIBITS THE CONSUME R REPORTING AGENCY F ROM ADDING 11
256	256	ADVERSE INFORMATION TO A QUALIFIED INDIV IDUAL’S CONSUMER REPORT. 12
257	257
258	258	(3) “DEPARTMENT ” MEANS THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF 13
259	259	LABOR. 14
260	260
261	261	(4) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” HAS THE MEAN ING STATED IN § 9–4101 15
262	262	OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 16
263	263
264	264	(5) “RECORD” MEANS A COMPILATION OF INFORMATION THAT : 17
265	265
266	266	(I) IDENTIFIES A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ; 18
267	267
268	268	(II) IS CREATED BY A CONSU MER REPORTING AGENCY SOLELY 19
269	269	FOR THE PURPOSE OF C OMPLYING WITH THIS S ECTION; AND 20
270	270
271	271	(III) MAY NOT BE CREATED OR USED TO CONSIDER THE 21
272	272	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S CREDITWORTHINESS , CREDIT STANDING , CREDIT 22
273	273	CAPACITY, CHARACTER , GENERAL REPUTATION , PERSONAL CHARACTERIS TICS, OR 23
274	274	MODE OF LIVING FOR A NY PURPOSE LISTED IN § 14–1201(E)(1) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 24
275	275
276	276	(B) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE USE OF A QUALIFIED 25
277	277	INDIVIDUAL’S CONSUMER REPORT OR RECORD BY: 26
278	278
279	279	(1) A PERSON ADMINISTERING A CREDIT FILE MONITO RING 27
280	280	SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE TO WHICH: 28
281	281
282	282	(I) THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL HAS SUBSCRIBED ; OR 29
283	283	HOUSE BILL 1557 7
284	284
285	285
286	286	(II) THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL HAS 1
287	287	SUBSCRIBED ON BEHALF OF THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ; 2
288	288
289	289	(2) A PERSON PROVIDING THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL A COPY OF 3
290	290	THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S CONSUMER REPORT ON REQUEST OF THE QUALIFIED 4
291	291	INDIVIDUAL; OR 5
292	292
293	293	(3) AN ENTITY LISTED IN § 14–1212.1(B)(2)(I) OR (II) OR (C)(5) OF 6
294	294	THIS SUBTITLE. 7
295	295
296	296	(C) (1) A CONSUMER REPORTING A GENCY SHALL PLACE A N ADVERSE 8
297	297	INFORMATION FREEZE FOR A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL FOR WHOM THE DEPARTMENT 9
298	298	REQUESTS AN ADVERSE INFORMATI ON FREEZE UNDER SUBS ECTION (G) OF THIS 10
299	299	SECTION WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THE REQUEST . 11
300	300
301	301	(2) IF A CONSUMER REPORTI NG AGENCY DOES NOT H AVE A FILE 12
302	302	PERTAINING TO A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL WHEN THE CONSUMER RE PORTING 13
303	303	AGENCY RECEIVES A RE QUEST FROM THE DEPARTMENT , THE CONSUMER 14
304	304	REPORTING AGENCY SHA LL CREATE A RECORD FOR THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL . 15
305	305
306	306	(D) UNLESS AN ADVERSE INFORMATION FREEZE FOR A QUALIFIED 16
307	307	INDIVIDUAL IS REMOVED IN ACCORD ANCE WITH SUBSECTION (H) OF THIS SECTION, 17
308	308	A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY MAY NOT ADD ADVERSE INFORMAT ION TO A 18
309	309	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S CONSUMER REPORT . 19
310	310
311	311	(E) AN ADVERSE INFORMATION FREEZE FOR A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL 20
312	312	PLACED UNDER SUBSECT ION (C) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L REMAIN IN EFFECT U NTIL 21
313	313	THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL IS NO LONGER ELIGIBL E FOR THE PROGRAM TO 22
314	314	PROTECT INDIVIDUALS UNEMPLOYED OR FURLOUGHED DUE TO FEDERAL 23
315	315	ACTIONS ESTABLISHED U NDER TITLE 9, SUBTITLE 41 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 24
316	316	ARTICLE. 25
317	317
318	318	(F) A CONSUMER REPORTING A GENCY MAY NOT CHARGE A FEE FOR ANY 26
319	319	ACTION TAKEN TO COMP LY WITH THIS SECTION. 27
320	320
321	321	(G) (1) AT LEAST ANNUALLY, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SEND TO EACH 28
322	322	CONSUMER REPORTING A GENCY BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION A LIST OF 29
323	323	INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL S. 30
324	324
325	325	(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REQU EST AN ADVERSE INFORMATION 31
326	326	FREEZE FOR EACH QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ON THE LIS T SPECIFIED UNDER 32
327	327	PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION O N BEHALF OF THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL . 33
328	328	8 HOUSE BILL 1557
329	329
330	330
331	331	(3) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBM IT A REQUEST FOR AN 1
332	332	ADVERSE INFORMATION FREEZE TO A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY BY 2
333	333	ELECTRONIC TRANSMISS ION TO THE E –MAIL ADDRESS OF THE CONSUMER 3
334	334	REPORTING AGENCY OR OTHER POINT OF CONTA CT IN THE MANNER SPE CIFIED BY 4
335	335	THE CONSUMER REPORTI NG AGENCY. 5
336	336
337	337	(II) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WI TH 6
338	338	A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY CONCERNING TH E TRANSMISSION OF 7
339	339	INFORMATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND A CONSU MER REPORTING AGENCY 8
340	340	TO FACILITATE THE IM PLEMENTATION OF THIS SUBSECTION. 9
341	341
342	342	(H) A CONSUMER REPORTING A GENCY MAY REMOVE AN ADVERSE 10
343	343	INFORMATION FREEZE FOR A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL OR DELETE A RECORD O F A 11
344	344	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL IF THE ADVERSE INFORMATION FREEZE WAS PLACED OR 12
345	345	THE RECORD WAS CREAT ED BASED ON A MATERI AL MISREPRESENTATION OF FACT 13
346	346	BY THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL . 14
347	347
348	348	(I) A PERSON MAY NOT REPOR T ADVERSE INFORMATIO N THAT IS SUBJECT 15
349	349	TO AN ADVERSE INFORM ATION FREEZE UNDER T HIS SECTION TO A CONSUMER 16
350	350	REPORTING AGENCY . 17
351	351
352	352	(J) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER PROVISION OF LA W, THE EXCLUSIVE 18
353	353	REMEDY FOR A VIOLATI ON OF THIS SECTION S HALL BE A COMPLAINT FILED WITH 19
354	354	THE COMMISSIONER UNDER § 14–1225 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 20
355	355
356	356	14–1225. 21
357	357
358	358	(a) Any consumer who has reason to believe that this subtitle, or any other law 22
359	359	regulating consumer credit reporting, has been violated by any person may file with the 23
360	360	Commissioner a complaint setting forth the details of an alleged violation. 24
361	361
362	362	(b) After receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner may inspect the pertinent 25
363	363	books, records, letters and contracts of any agency, and of any person who has furnished 26
364	364	information to the agency relating to the specific written complaint. 27
365	365
366	366	Article – Financial Institutions 28
367	367
368	368	1–101. 29
369	369
370	370	(a) In this article, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following 30
371	371	words have the meanings indicated. 31
372	372
373	373	(d) “Banking institution” means an institution that is incorporated under the 32
374	374	laws of this State as a State bank, trust company, or savings bank. 33
375	375	HOUSE BILL 1557 9
376	376
377	377
378	378	(i) “Credit union” means a credit union that is incorporated under the laws of this 1
379	379	State as a credit union. 2
380	380
381	381	(j) “Financial institution” means any financial institution of the type supervised 3
382	382	under this article, whether or not State–chartered. 4
383	383
384	384	(n) “Mortgage” includes a deed of trust that secures a debt or the performance of 5
385	385	an obligation. 6
386	386
387	387	5–514. 7
388	388
389	389	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 8
390	390	INDICATED. 9
391	391
392	392	(2) “CONVENTIONAL HOME MOR TGAGE LOAN ” HAS THE MEANING 10
393	393	STATED IN § 11–501 OF THIS ARTICLE. 11
394	394
395	395	(3) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–4101 12
396	396	OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 13
397	397
398	398	(4) “QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLA N” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 14
399	399	9–4101 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 15
400	400
401	401	(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A BANKING INSTITUTION THAT MADE A 16
402	402	CONVENTIONAL HOME MO RTGAGE LOAN TO A QUALIFIED INDIVIDU AL WHO SUBMITS 17
403	403	TO THE BANKING INSTITUTION : 18
404	404
405	405	(1) VERIFICATION THAT THE CUSTOMER IS A QUALIF IED INDIVIDUAL; 19
406	406	AND 20
407	407
408	408	(2) A QUALIFIED PAYMENT PL AN TO PAY ANY MISSED PAYMENTS FOR 21
409	409	THE BORROWER ’S MORTGAGE AFTER THE BORROW ER IS NO LONGER A QU ALIFIED 22
410	410	INDIVIDUAL. 23
411	411
412	412	(C) A BANKING INSTITUTION : 24
413	413
414	414	(1) SHALL ACCEPT FROM A QUALIFIED IND IVIDUAL A PARTIAL 25
415	415	PAYMENT OF ANY LOAN PAYMENTS DUE; AND 26
416	416
417	417	(2) MAY NOT IMPOSE A LATE FEE OR PENALT Y ON A QUALIFIED 27
418	418	INDIVIDUAL FOR THE N ONPAYMENT OF THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S MORTGAGE . 28
419	419
420	420	6–606.1. 29
421	421	10 HOUSE BILL 1557
422	422
423	423
424	424	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 1
425	425	INDICATED. 2
426	426
427	427	(2) “CONVENTIONAL HOME MOR TGAGE LOAN ” HAS THE MEANING 3
428	428	STATED IN § 11–501 OF THIS ARTICLE. 4
429	429
430	430	(3) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–4101 5
431	431	OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 6
432	432
433	433	(4) “QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLA N” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 7
434	434	9–4101 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 8
435	435
436	436	(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A CREDIT UNI ON THAT MADE A 9
437	437	CONVENTIONAL HOME MO RTGAGE LOAN TO A QUA LIFIED INDIVIDUAL WH O SUBMITS 10
438	438	TO THE CREDIT UNION : 11
439	439
440	440	(1) VERIFICATION THAT THE CUSTOMER IS A QUALIF IED INDIVIDUAL; 12
441	441	AND 13
442	442
443	443	(2) A QUALIFIED PAYMENT PL AN TO PAY ANY MISSED PAYMENTS F OR 14
444	444	THE BORROWER ’S MORTGAGE AFTER THE BORROWER IS NO LONGE R A QUALIFIED 15
445	445	INDIVIDUAL. 16
446	446
447	447	(C) A CREDIT UNION: 17
448	448
449	449	(1) SHALL ACCEPT FROM A QUALIFIED IND IVIDUAL A PARTIAL 18
450	450	PAYMENT OF ANY LOAN PAYMENT DUE; AND 19
451	451
452	452	(2) MAY NOT IMPOSE A LATE FEE OR PENALT Y ON A QUALIFIED 20
453	453	INDIVIDUAL FOR THE N ONPAYMENT OF THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S MORTGAGE . 21
454	454
455	455	8–101. 22
456	456
457	457	(a) In this title and in Title 9, the following words have the meanings indicated. 23
458	458
459	459	(i) “Savings and loan association” or “association” means, unless the context 24
460	460	clearly requires otherwise, a corporation that is chartered under the laws of this State as a 25
461	461	savings and loan association. 26
462	462
463	463	9–409. 27
464	464
465	465	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 28
466	466	INDICATED. 29
467	467	HOUSE BILL 1557 11
468	468
469	469
470	470	(2) “CONVENTIONAL HOME MORTGAGE LOAN ” HAS THE MEANING 1
471	471	STATED IN § 11–501 OF THIS ARTICLE. 2
472	472
473	473	(3) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–4101 3
474	474	OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 4
475	475
476	476	(4) “QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLA N” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 5
477	477	9–4101 OF THE STATE GOVERNME NT ARTICLE. 6
478	478
479	479	(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A SAVINGS AND LOAN ASS OCIATION 7
480	480	THAT MADE A CONVENTI ONAL HOME MORTGAGE L OAN TO A QUALIFIED I NDIVIDUAL 8
481	481	WHO SUBMITS TO THE SAVINGS AND LOAN ASS OCIATION: 9
482	482
483	483	(1) VERIFICATION THAT THE CUSTOMER IS A QUALIF IED INDIVIDUAL; 10
484	484	AND 11
485	485
486	486	(2) A QUALIFIED PAYMENT PL AN TO PAY ANY MISSED PAYMENTS FOR 12
487	487	THE BORROWER ’S MORTGAGE AFTER THE BORROWER IS NO LONGE R A QUALIFIED 13
488	488	INDIVIDUAL. 14
489	489
490	490	(C) A SAVINGS AND LOAN ASS OCIATION: 15
491	491
492	492	(1) SHALL ACCEPT FROM A QUALIFIED IND IVIDUAL A PARTIAL 16
493	493	PAYMENT OF ANY LOAN PAYMENT DUE; AND 17
494	494
495	495	(2) MAY NOT IMPOSE A LATE FEE OR PENALT Y ON A QUALIFIED 18
496	496	INDIVIDUAL FOR THE N ONPAYMENT OF THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S MORTGAGE . 19
497	497
498	498	11–501. 20
499	499
500	500	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 21
501	501
502	502	(B–1) (1) “CONVENTIONAL HOME MOR TGAGE LOAN ” MEANS ANY LOAN 22
503	503	PRIMARILY FOR PERSON AL, FAMILY, OR HOUSEHOLD USE THA T IS SECURED BY A 23
504	504	MORTGAGE , DEED OF TRUST , OR OTHER EQUIVALENT CONSENSUAL SECURITY 24
505	505	INTEREST ON A DWELLI NG OR RESIDENTIAL RE AL ESTATE ON WHICH A DWELLING 25
506	506	IS CONSTRUCTED OR INTEN DED TO BE CONSTRUCTE D. 26
507	507
508	508	(2) “CONVENTIONAL HOME MOR TGAGE LOAN” DOES NOT INCLUDE A 27
509	509	LOAN THAT IS INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT . 28
510	510
511	511	(c) (1) “Dwelling” means a residential structure or mobile home that contains 29
512	512	one to four family housing units or individual units of condominiums or cooperatives. 30
513	513	12 HOUSE BILL 1557
514	514
515	515
516	516	(2) “Dwelling” does not include a residential structure or mobile home 1
517	517	unless the residential structure or mobile home, or at least one unit contained in the 2
518	518	residential structure or mobile home, is owner–occupied. 3
519	519
520	520	(k) (1) “Mortgage lender” means any person who: 4
521	521
522	522	(i) Is a mortgage broker; 5
523	523
524	524	(ii) Makes a mortgage loan to any person; or 6
525	525
526	526	(iii) Is a mortgage servicer. 7
527	527
528	528	(2) “Mortgage lender” does not include: 8
529	529
530	530	(i) A financial institution that accepts deposits and is regulated 9
531	531	under Title 3, Title 4, Title 5, or Title 6 of this article; 10
532	532
533	533	(ii) The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation; 11
534	534
535	535	(iii) The Federal National Mortgage Association; 12
536	536
537	537	(iv) The Government National Mortgage Association; 13
538	538
539	539	(v) Any person engaged exclusively in the acquisition of all or any 14
540	540	portion of a mortgage loan under any federal, State, or local governmental program of 15
541	541	mortgage loan purchases; or 16
542	542
543	543	(vi) An affiliated insurance producer–mortgage loan originator 17
544	544	licensed under § 11–603.1 of this title. 18
545	545
546	546	(l) (1) “Mortgage lending business” means the activities set forth in the 19
547	547	definition of “mortgage lender” in subsection (k) of this section which require that person 20
548	548	to be licensed under this subtitle. 21
549	549
550	550	(2) “Mortgage lending business” includes the making or procuring of 22
551	551	mortgage loans secured by a dwelling or residential real estate located outside Maryland. 23
552	552
553	553	(n) “Mortgage loan originator” has the meaning stated in § 11–601 of this title. 24
554	554
555	555	11–522. 25
556	556
557	557	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 26
558	558	INDICATED. 27
559	559
560	560	(2) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–4101 28
561	561	OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 29 HOUSE BILL 1557 13
562	562
563	563
564	564
565	565	(3) “QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLA N” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 1
566	566	9–4101 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 2
567	567
568	568	(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A MORTGAGE L ENDER OR MORTGAGE 3
569	569	LENDING BUSINESS THA T MADE A CONVENTIONA L HOME MORTGAGE LOAN TO A 4
570	570	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL WHO SUBMITS TO THE MORTGAGE LENDER OR M ORTGAGE 5
571	571	LENDING BUSINESS : 6
572	572
573	573	(1) VERIFICATION THAT THE CUSTOMER IS A QUALIF IED INDIVIDUAL; 7
574	574	AND 8
575	575
576	576	(2) A QUALIFIED PAYMENT PL AN TO PAY ANY MISSED PAYMENTS FOR 9
577	577	THE BORROWER ’S MORTGAGE AFTER THE BORROWER IS NO LONGE R A QUALIFIED 10
578	578	INDIVIDUAL. 11
579	579
580	580	(C) A MORTGAGE LENDER OR M ORTGAGE LENDING BUSINESS: 12
581	581
582	582	(1) SHALL ACCEPT FROM A QUALIFIED IND IVIDUAL A PARTIAL 13
583	583	PAYMENT OF ANY LOAN PAYMENT DUE; AND 14
584	584
585	585	(2) MAY NOT IMPOSE A LATE FEE OR PENALT Y ON A QUALIFIED 15
586	586	INDIVIDUAL FOR THE N ONPAYMENT OF THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S MORTGAGE . 16
587	587
588	588	11–601. 17
589	589
590	590	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 18
591	591
592	592	(q) (1) “Mortgage loan originator” means an individual who for compensation 19
593	593	or gain, or in the expectation of compensation or gain: 20
594	594
595	595	(i) Takes a loan application; or 21
596	596
597	597	(ii) Offers or negotiates terms of a mortgage loan. 22
598	598
599	599	(2) “Mortgage loan originator” does not include an individual who: 23
600	600
601	601	(i) Acts solely as a mortgage loan processor or underwriter; 24
602	602
603	603	(ii) Performs only real estate brokerage activities and is licensed in 25
604	604	accordance with Title 17 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article, unless the 26
605	605	individual is compensated by a mortgage lender, mortgage broker, or other mortgage loan 27
606	606	originator or by any agent of a mortgage lender, mortgage broker, or other mortgage loan 28
607	607	originator; 29
608	608	14 HOUSE BILL 1557
609	609
610	610
611	611	(iii) Is involved solely in extensions of credit relating to timeshare 1
612	612	plans, as that term is defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101(53D); or 2
613	613
614	614	(iv) Is a retailer of mobile homes or an employee of the retailer if the 3
615	615	retailer or employee, as applicable, does not receive, directly or indirectly, compensation or 4
616	616	gain for engaging in activities described in paragraph (1) of this subsection that is in excess 5
617	617	of compensation or gain received in a comparable cash transaction. 6
618	618
619	619	11–605.1. 7
620	620
621	621	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANI NGS 8
622	622	INDICATED. 9
623	623
624	624	(2) “CONVENTIONAL HOME MOR TGAGE LOAN ” HAS THE MEANING 10
625	625	STATED IN § 11–501 OF THIS TITLE. 11
626	626
627	627	(3) “DWELLING” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 11–501 OF THIS 12
628	628	TITLE. 13
629	629
630	630	(4) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–4101 14
631	631	OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 15
632	632
633	633	(5) “QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLA N” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 16
634	634	9–4101 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 17
635	635
636	636	(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A MORTGAGE L OAN ORIGINATOR THAT 18
637	637	MADE A CONVENTIONAL HOME MORTGAGE LOAN T O A QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL WHO 19
638	638	SUBMITS TO THE MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGIN ATOR: 20
639	639
640	640	(1) VERIFICATION THAT THE CUSTOMER IS A QUALIF IED INDIVIDUAL; 21
641	641	AND 22
642	642
643	643	(2) A QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLAN TO P AY ANY MISSED PAYMEN TS FOR 23
644	644	THE BORROWER ’S MORTGAGE AFTER THE BORROWER IS NO LONGE R A QUALIFIED 24
645	645	INDIVIDUAL. 25
646	646
647	647	(C) A MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGIN ATOR: 26
648	648
649	649	(1) SHALL ACCEPT FROM A QUALIFIED IND IVIDUAL A PARTIAL 27
650	650	PAYMENT OF ANY LOAN PAYMENT DUE; AND 28
651	651
652	652	(2) MAY NOT IMPOSE A LATE FEE OR PENALT Y ON A QUALIFIED 29
653	653	INDIVIDUAL FOR THE N ONPAYMENT OF THE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ’S MORTGAGE . 30
654	654	HOUSE BILL 1557 15
655	655
656	656
657	657	Article – Public Utilities 1
658	658
659	659	1–101. 2
660	660
661	661	(a) In this division the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
662	662
663	663	(d) “Commission” means the Public Service Commission. 4
664	664
665	665	(z) (1) “Public service company” means a common carrier company, electric 5
666	666	company, gas company, sewage disposal company, telegraph company, telephone company, 6
667	667	water company, or any combination of public service companies. 7
668	668
669	669	(2) “Public service company” does not include: 8
670	670
671	671	(i) a campground that provides water, electric, gas, sewage, or 9
672	672	telephone service to campers incident to the campground’s primary business of operating 10
673	673	and maintaining the campground; or 11
674	674
675	675	(ii) a person that owns or operates equipment used for charging 12
676	676	electric vehicles, including a person that owns or operates: 13
677	677
678	678	1. an electric vehicle charging station; 14
679	679
680	680	2. electric vehicle supply equipment; or 15
681	681
682	682	3. an electric vehicle charging station service company or 16
683	683	provider. 17
684	684
685	685	7–307.5. 18
686	686
687	687	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 19
688	688	INDICATED. 20
689	689
690	690	(2) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–4101 21
691	691	OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 22
692	692
693	693	(3) “QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLA N” HAS THE MEA NING STATED IN § 23
694	694	9–4101 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 24
695	695
696	696	(B) A PUBLIC SERVICE COMPA NY MAY NOT TERMINATE ELECTRIC OR GAS 25
697	697	SERVICE OR ASSESS A LATE FEE, PENALTY, OR INTEREST TO A CUS TOMER WHO IS A 26
698	698	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL FOR NONPAYMENT IF TH E CUSTOMER CONTACTS THE 27
699	699	PUBLIC SERVICE COMPA NY BEFORE THE DATE O F TERMINATION TO : 28
700	700	16 HOUSE BILL 1557
701	701
702	702
703	703	(1) PROVIDE VERIFICATION THAT THE CUSTOMER IS A QUALIFIED 1
704	704	INDIVIDUAL; AND 2
705	705
706	706	(2) ENTER INTO A QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLAN TO PAY ANY 3
707	707	OUTSTANDING AMOUNT O N THE CUSTOMER ’S ACCOUNT AFTER THE CUSTOMER IS NO 4
708	708	LONGER A QUALIFIED I NDIVIDUAL. 5
709	709
710	710	(C) IF A PUBLIC SERVICE C OMPANY TERMINATES, FOR ANY REASON , THE 6
711	711	ELECTRIC OR GAS SERV ICE OF A CUSTOMER WHO IS A QUALIFIED I NDIVIDUAL, THE 7
712	712	COMPANY SHALL RESTOR E THE SERVICE. 8
713	713
714	714	(D) A PUBLIC SERVICE COMPA NY SHALL ACCEPT PARTIAL PAY MENT OF A 9
715	715	CHARGE FOR ELECTRIC OR GAS SERVICE FROM A QUALIFIED IND IVIDUAL. 10
716	716
717	717	(E) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE 11
718	718	COMMISSION MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO IMPLE MENT THIS SECTION . 12
719	719
720	720	Article – Real Property 13
721	721
722	722	7–105.1. 14
723	723
724	724	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 15
725	725
726	726	(8) “Owner–occupied residential property” means residential property in 16
727	727	which at least one unit is occupied by an individual who: 17
728	728
729	729	(i) Has an ownership interest in the property; and 18
730	730
731	731	(ii) Uses the property as the individual’s primary residence. 19
732	732
733	733	(12) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–4101 20
734	734	OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 21
735	735
736	736	(13) “QUALIFIED LANDLORD” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–4101 22
737	737	OF THE STATE GOVERNMEN T ARTICLE. 23
738	738
739	739	[(12)] (14) “Residential property” means real property improved by four or 24
740	740	fewer single family dwelling units that are designed principally and are intended for human 25
741	741	habitation. 26
742	742
743	743	(b–1) (1) This subsection applies only to an action for the foreclosure of a 27
744	744	mortgage or deed of trust on an owner–occupied residential property. 28
745	745
746	746	(2) Notwithstanding any other law, the court shall stay the proceedings if 29
747	747	the defendant presents evidence satisfactory to the court that the defendant is: 30 HOUSE BILL 1557 17
748	748
749	749
750	750
751	751	(i) An employee of the federal or State government or an employee 1
752	752	of a local government in the State; and 2
753	753
754	754	(ii) Involuntarily furloughed from work without pay because of a 3
755	755	government shutdown, regardless of whether the employee is required to report to work 4
756	756	during the furlough. 5
757	757
758	758	(3) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a stay under this 6
759	759	subsection shall be granted for a time that the court considers reasonable. 7
760	760
761	761	(ii) A stay under this subsection may not be granted for a period that 8
762	762	ends more than 30 days after the end of the government shutdown without a showing of 9
763	763	sufficient cause by a party to the action. 10
764	764
765	765	(B–2) (1) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES ONLY TO AN ACTION FOR THE 11
766	766	FORECLOSURE OF A MOR TGAGE OR DEED OF TRU ST ON A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY 12
767	767	THAT IS: 13
768	768
769	769	(I) OWNER–OCCUPIED OR LEASED T O A TENANT; AND 14
770	770
771	771	(II) OWNED BY A QUALIFIED LANDLORD OR A QUALIF IED 15
772	772	INDIVIDUAL. 16
773	773
774	774	(2) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER LAW, THE COURT SHALL STAY 17
775	775	THE PROCEEDINGS IF T HE DEFENDANT PRESENT S TO THE COURT VERIF ICATION 18
776	776	FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THAT THE DEFEND ANT IS A 19
777	777	QUALIFIED LANDLORD O R A QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL. 20
778	778
779	779	(3) A STAY UNDER THIS SUBS ECTION SHALL BE GRAN TED UNTIL A 21
780	780	DATE AFTER THE DEFEN DANT IS NO LONGER EL IGIBLE TO BE A QUALI FIED 22
781	781	LANDLORD OR QUALIFIE D INDIVIDUAL THAT THE COURT CO NSIDERS REASONABLE . 23
782	782
783	783	(q) An action for failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall be 24
784	784	brought within 3 years after the date of the order ratifying the sale. 25
785	785
786	786	(s) The Commissioner of Financial Regulation may adopt additional regulations 26
787	787	necessary to carry out the requirements of this section. 27
788	788
789	789	8–121. 28
790	790
791	791	(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A TENANT OF A RESIDENTIAL 29
792	792	PROPERTY WHO IS A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL , AS DEFINED IN § 9–4101 OF THE STATE 30
793	793	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 31
794	794	18 HOUSE BILL 1557
795	795
796	796
797	797	(B) A TENANT SHALL: 1
798	798
799	799	(1) ADHERE TO A QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLAN , AS DEFINED IN § 2
800	800	9–4101 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; AND 3
801	801
802	802	(2) PROVIDE VERIFICATION FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF 4
803	803	LABOR WHEN: 5
804	804
805	805	(I) THE TENANT IS DECLARED A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ; OR 6
806	806
807	807	(II) THE TENANT ’S STATUS AS A QUALIFIED INDIV IDUAL 7
808	808	TERMINATES. 8
809	809
810	810	(C) A LANDLORD: 9
811	811
812	812	(1) MAY NOT IMPOSE A LATE FEE OR PENALT Y ON A TENANT WHO IS 10
813	813	A QUALIFIED INDIVIDU AL; 11
814	814
815	815	(2) SHALL ACCEPT PARTIAL PAYMENT FOR : 12
816	816
817	817	(I) UNPAID RENT; OR 13
818	818
819	819	(II) A LATE FEE OR PENALTY IMPOSED ON A TENANT BEFORE 14
820	820	THE TENANT BECAME A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ; AND 15
821	821
822	822	(3) SHALL ACCEPT A QUALIF IED PAYMENT PLAN SUB MITTED BY A 16
823	823	TENANT FOR UNPAID RE NT OR A LATE FEE OR PENALT Y. 17
824	824
825	825	8–401. 18
826	826
827	827	(a) Whenever the tenant or tenants fail to pay the rent when due and payable, it 19
828	828	shall be lawful for the landlord to have again and repossess the premises in accordance 20
829	829	with this section. 21
830	830
831	831	(d) (1) This subsection applies only to an action for the repossession of 22
832	832	residential property for failure to pay rent due during a government shutdown. 23
833	833
834	834	(2) Notwithstanding any other law, the court shall stay the proceeding if 24
835	835	the tenant or an occupant of the property that is the subject of the proceeding presents 25
836	836	evidence satisfactory to the court that the occupant: 26
837	837
838	838	(i) Uses the property as the individual’s primary residence; 27
839	839
840	840	(ii) Is an employee of the federal or State government or an employee 28
841	841	of a local government in the State; and 29 HOUSE BILL 1557 19
842	842
843	843
844	844
845	845	(iii) Is involuntarily furloughed from work without pay because of a 1
846	846	government shutdown, regardless of whether the employee is required to report to work 2
847	847	during the furlough. 3
848	848
849	849	(3) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a stay under this 4
850	850	subsection shall be granted for a time that the court considers reasonable. 5
851	851
852	852	(ii) A stay under this subsection may not be granted for a period that 6
853	853	ends more than 30 days after the end of the government shutdown without a showing of 7
854	854	sufficient cause by a party to the action. 8
855	855
856	856	(D–1) (1) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES ONLY TO AN ACTION FOR THE 9
857	857	REPOSSESSION OF RESI DENTIAL PROPERTY FOR FAILURE TO PAY RENT DUE BY A 10
858	858	TENANT WHO IS A QUAL IFIED INDIVIDUAL, AS DEFINED IN § 9–4101 OF THE STATE 11
859	859	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 12
860	860
861	861	(2) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY O THER LAW, THE COURT SHALL STAY 13
862	862	THE PROCEEDING IF TH E TENANT OR AN OCCUP ANT OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS THE 14
863	863	SUBJECT OF THE PROCE EDING PRESENTS TO TH E COURT VERIFICATION FROM TH E 15
864	864	MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THAT THE OCCUPANT IS A QUALIFIED 16
865	865	INDIVIDUAL. 17
866	866
867	867	(3) A STAY UNDER THIS SUBS ECTION SHALL BE GRAN TED UNTIL A 18
868	868	DATE AFTER THE DEFENDANT LOSES STATUS AS A QU ALIFIED LANDLORD OR 19
869	869	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THAT THE COURT CONSI DERS REASONABLE . 20
870	870
871	871	Article – State Government 21
872	872
873	873	SUBTITLE 41. PROGRAM TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS UNEMPLOYED OR 22
874	874	FURLOUGHED DUE TO FEDERAL ACTIONS. 23
875	875
876	876	9–4101. 24
877	877
878	878	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 25
879	879	INDICATED. 26
880	880
881	881	(B) “DEPARTMENT ” MEANS THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. 27
882	882
883	883	(C) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE PROGRAM TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS 28
884	884	UNEMPLOYED OR FURLOUGHED DUE TO FEDERAL ACTIONS. 29
885	885	20 HOUSE BILL 1557
886	886
887	887
888	888	(D) (1) “QUALIFIED FURLOUGHED INDIVIDUAL” MEANS AN EMPLOYEE 1
889	889	OF THE FEDERAL GOVER NMENT DURING A FEDER AL GOVERNMENT SHUTDO WN 2
890	890	THAT LASTS FOR A PERIOD OF 30 DAYS OR MORE . 3
891	891
892	892	(2) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED A “QUALIFIED 4
893	893	FURLOUGHED INDIVIDUA L” IF THE FEDERAL GOVER NMENT IS NOT SHUT DO WN. 5
894	894
895	895	(E) “QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL ” MEANS A QUALIFIED FU RLOUGHED 6
896	896	INDIVIDUAL OR A QUAL IFIED UNEMPLOYED IND IVIDUAL. 7
897	897
898	898	(F) “QUALIFIED LANDLORD ” MEANS A LANDLORD WHO LEASES A 8
899	899	RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TO A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL . 9
900	900
901	901	(G) “QUALIFIED PAYMENT PLA N” MEANS AN INTEREST–FREE PAYMENT 10
902	902	PLAN THAT ALLOWS A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL TO REPAY AN OUTSTANDING 11
903	903	BALANCE, FEE, OR OTHER MONEY OWED OVER A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS. 12
904	904
905	905	(H) (1) “QUALIFIED UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL 13
906	906	WHO IS UNEMPLOYED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY DUE TO PERSONNEL ACTIONS BY 14
907	907	THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT OR CHANGES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ’S 15
908	908	BUDGET, CONTRACTS, OR FUNDING THAT OCCURRED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 20, 16
909	909	2025. 17
910	910
911	911	(2) “QUALIFIED UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL” INCLUDES: 18
912	912
913	913	(I) A FORMER OR FURLOUGHED FEDERAL CONTRACTOR ; 19
914	914
915	915	(II) A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF A BUSINESS THAT CLOS ED OR 20
916	916	REDUCED STAFF DIRECTLY OR INDIRECT LY DUE TO PERSONNEL ACTIONS BY THE 21
917	917	FEDERAL GOVERNMENT O R CHANGES IN THE FEDER AL GOVERNMENT ’S BUDGET, 22
918	918	CONTRACTS, OR FUNDING; AND 23
919	919
920	920	(III) A FORMER OWNER OF A BU SINESS THAT CLOSED DIRECTLY 24
921	921	OR INDIRECTLY DUE TO PERSONNEL ACTIONS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNME NT OR 25
922	922	CHANGES IN THE FEDER AL GOVERNMENT ’S BUDGET, CONTRACTS, OR FUNDING. 26
923	923
924	924	(3) “QUALIFIED UNEMPLOYED INDIVIDUAL” DOES NOT INCLUDE AN 27
925	925	INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEI VES WAGES FOR PERFOR MING WORK. 28
926	926
927	927	9–4102. 29
928	928
929	929	(A) THERE IS A PROGRAM TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS UNEMPLOYED OR 30
930	930	FURLOUGHED DUE TO FEDERAL ACTIONS. 31 HOUSE BILL 1557 21
931	931
932	932
933	933
934	934	(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. 1
935	935
936	936	9–4103. 2
937	937
938	938	(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 3
939	939
940	940	(1) ESTABLISH AN APPLICA TION PROCESS FOR IND IVIDUALS WHO 4
941	941	MAY QUALIFY FOR THE PROGRAM; 5
942	942
943	943	(2) EVALUATE APPLICATION S FOR ELIGIBILITY; 6
944	944
945	945	(3) NOTIFY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DETERMINED TO BE A QUALIFIED 7
946	946	FURLOUGHED INDIVIDUA L, A QUALIFIED LANDLORD , OR A QUALIFIED UNEMPLOYED 8
947	947	INDIVIDUAL: 9
948	948
949	949	(I) THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WAS DE TERMINED TO BE QUALI FIED 10
950	950	FOR THE PROGRAM; 11
951	951
952	952	(II) OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WOULD DISQUALIFY AN 12
953	953	INDIVIDUAL FROM THE PROGRAM; AND 13
954	954
955	955	(III) OF THE RIGHTS AND PROTE CTIONS AFFORDED TO T HE 14
956	956	INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE PROGRAM; 15
957	957
958	958	(4) REGULARLY REEVALUATE WHETHER A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL 16
959	959	REMAINS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM; AND 17
960	960
961	961	(5) AT THE REQUEST OF A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL OR A QUALIFIED 18
962	962	LANDLORD, PROVIDE VERIFICATION THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS A QUAL IFIED 19
963	963	INDIVIDUAL OR A QUALIFIED LANDLORD TO AN ENTITY THAT IS REQUIRED TO DO OR 20
964	964	PROHIBITED FROM DOIN G AN ACTION BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUAL IS A QUAL IFIED 21
965	965	INDIVIDUAL OR A QUALIFIED LANDL ORD, INCLUDING: 22
966	966
967	967	(I) A BANKING INSTITUTIO N, AS DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE 23
968	968	FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARTICLE; 24
969	969
970	970	(II) A COLLECTOR , AS DEFINED IN § 14–201 OF THE 25
971	971	COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE; 26
972	972
973	973	(III) A COLLECTOR , AS DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE 27
974	974	TAX – PROPERTY ARTICLE; 28
975	975	22 HOUSE BILL 1557
976	976
977	977
978	978	(IV) A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY, AS DEFINED IN § 1
979	979	14–1201 OF THE COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE; 2
980	980
981	981	(V) A CREDIT UNION, AS DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF THE FINANCIAL 3
982	982	INSTITUTIONS ARTICLE; 4
983	983
984	984	(VI) AN ENTITY SEEKING TO FORECLOSE A RESIDENT IAL 5
985	985	PROPERTY UNDER § 7–105.1 OF THE REAL PROPERTY ARTICLE; 6
986	986
987	987	(VII) A LANDLORD SUBJECT TO § 8–208 OF THE REAL PROPERTY 7
988	988	ARTICLE; 8
989	989
990	990	(VIII) A MORTGAGE LENDER , AS DEFINED IN § 11–501 OF THE 9
991	991	FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARTICLE; 10
992	992
993	993	(IX) A MORTGAGE LEND ING BUSINESS, AS DEFINED IN § 11–501 11
994	994	OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARTICLE; 12
995	995
996	996	(X) A MORTGAGE LOAN ORIG INATOR, AS DEFINED IN § 11–501 13
997	997	OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARTICLE; 14
998	998
999	999	(XI) A PUBLIC SERVICE COMPA NY, AS DEFINED IN § 1–101 OF 15
1000	1000	THE PUBLIC UTILITIES ARTICLE; OR 16
1001	1001
1002	1002	(XII) A SAVINGS AND LOAN A SSOCIATION, AS DEFINED IN § 8–101 17
1003	1003	OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARTICLE. 18
1004	1004
1005	1005	(B) (1) THIS SUBSECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A QUALI FIED PAYMENT 19
1006	1006	PLAN THAT A QUALIFIE D INDIVIDUAL ENTERS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE 20
1007	1007	PROGRAM. 21
1008	1008
1009	1009	(2) FOR PURPOSES OF PARTI CIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, AN 22
1010	1010	INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT REMAIN: 23
1011	1011
1012	1012	(I) A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR; OR 24
1013	1013
1014	1014	(II) WHILE RECEIVING WAGES FOR PERFORMING WORK. 25
1015	1015
1016	1016	(C) ON THE EARLIER OF THE DATE AN INDIVIDUAL L OSES ELIGIBILITY TO 26
1017	1017	PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM OR 30 DAYS BEFORE A QUALIF IED INDIVIDUAL WILL 27
1018	1018	LOSE ELIGIBILITY TO BE IN THE PROGRAM DUE TO REACHING THE END OF THE 28
1019	1019	1–YEAR ELIGIBILITY PER IOD, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO A 29
1020	1020	QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL OF: 30 HOUSE BILL 1557 23
1021	1021
1022	1022
1023	1023
1024	1024	(1) WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL ’S ELIGIBILITY ENDED OR IS SCHEDULED 1
1025	1025	TO END; 2
1026	1026
1027	1027	(2) THE PROTECTIONS PROV IDED BY THE PROGRAM THAT WILL NO 3
1028	1028	LONGER APPLY TO THE INDIVIDUAL; 4
1029	1029
1030	1030	(3) THE INDIVIDUAL ’S RIGHT TO A QUALIFI ED PAYMENT PLAN , EVEN 5
1031	1031	AFTER THE INDIVIDUAL’S ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PROGRAM EXPIRES; AND 6
1032	1032
1033	1033	(4) CONSUMER PROTECTION RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE T O 7
1034	1034	INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE. 8
1035	1035
1036	1036	(D) A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL SHALL COMPLY WITH RE QUIREMENTS SET BY 9
1037	1037	THE DEPARTMENT TO VERIFY WHETHER THE QUALIFIED INDIVI DUAL CONTINUES 10
1038	1038	TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM. 11
1039	1039
1040	1040	9–4104. 12
1041	1041
1042	1042	THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SUBTITLE. 13
1043	1043
1044	1044	9–4105. 14
1045	1045
1046	1046	THIS SUBTITLE MAY BE CITED AS THE UNEMPLOYED AND FURLOUGHED 15
1047	1047	WORKERS ASSISTANCE ACT. 16
1048	1048
1049	1049	Article – Tax – Property 17
1050	1050
1051	1051	1–101. 18
1052	1052
1053	1053	(a) In this article the following words have the meanings indicated. 19
1054	1054
1055	1055	(e) “Collector” includes an officer of a county or municipal corporation who has a 20
1056	1056	duty to collect or remit taxes. 21
1057	1057
1058	1058	14–811. 22
1059	1059
1060	1060	(J) THE COLLECTOR SHALL W ITHHOLD FROM SALE THE DWELLING OF A 23
1061	1061	HOMEOWNER WHO IS : 24
1062	1062
1063	1063	(1) A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL , AS DEFINED IN § 9–4101 OF THE STATE 25
1064	1064	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE; OR 26
1065	1065	24 HOUSE BILL 1557
1066	1066
1067	1067
1068	1068	(2) A QUALIFIED LANDLORD , AS DEFINED IN § 9–4101 OF THE STATE 1
1069	1069	GOVERNMENT ARTICLE. 2
1070	1070
1071	1071	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That §§ 5 –514, 6–606.1, 9–409, 3
1072	1072	11–522, and 11–605.1 of the Financial Institutions Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this 4
1073	1073	Act, shall be construed to apply retroactively and shall be applied to and interpreted to 5
1074	1074	affect any conventional home mortgage loan entered into prior to the effective date of this 6
1075	1075	Act. 7
1076	1076
1077	1077	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That §§ 7–105.1, 8–121, and 8–401 8
1078	1078	of the Real Property Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, shall be construed to apply 9
1079	1079	immediately and shall be applied to and interpreted to affect any foreclosure action, lease, 10
1080	1080	or action for repossession initiated prior to the effective date of this Act. 11
1081	1081
1082	1082	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 12
1083	1083	measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 13
1084	1084	been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 14
1085	1085	each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 15
1086	1086	enacted. 16