EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0896*
HOUSE BILL 896
D5 5lr2528
CF SB 677
By: Delegate Stewart
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Human Relations – Discrimination in Housing – Income–Based Housing 2
Subsidies 3
FOR the purpose of providing that a certain landlord may not refuse to rent to a prospective 4
tenant who pays rent with the assistance of an income–based housing subsidy under 5
certain circumstances, subject to a certain exception; establishing that a violation of 6
this Act is a discriminatory housing practice and is subject to enforcement by the 7
Maryland Commission on Civil Rights ; and generally relating to housing 8
discrimination. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – State Government 11
Section 20–701(a) and 20–1020(a) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – State Government 16
Section 20–701(c) and 20–1020(e) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 19
BY adding to 20
Article – State Government 21
Section 20–705.1 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 24
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 25
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 26
2 HOUSE BILL 896
Article – State Government 1
20–701. 2
(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
(c) “Discriminatory housing practice” means an act that is prohibited under § 4
20–705, § 20–705.1, § 20–706, § 20–707, or § 20–708 of this subtitle. 5
20–705.1. 6
(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION , “INCOME–BASED HOUSING SUBSID Y” MEANS 7
RECURRING MONETARY A SSISTANCE TO A LANDL ORD FROM A GOVERNMENTAL 8
ENTITY OR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON THAT IS INTENDED TO DEFRAY, IN WHOLE 9
OR IN PART, A TENANT’S RENT OBLIGATION . 10
(2) “INCOME–BASED HOUSING SUBSID Y” INCLUDES LOW–INCOME 11
HOUSING ASSISTANCE C ERTIFICATES AND VOUC HERS ISSUED UNDER TH E UNITED 12
STATES HOUSING ACT OF 1937. 13
(B) EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED UNDER FEDERAL LAW , A LANDLORD OR 14
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL P ROPERTY THAT USES FINANCIAL INFORMATION , INCLUDING 15
CREDIT HISTORY , AS PART OF A PROSPECTIVE TENANT’S RENTAL APPLICATION MAY 16
NOT REFUSE TO RENT TO A PROSPECTIVE TENANT WHO PAYS RENT WITH THE 17
ASSISTANCE OF AN INC OME–BASED HOUSING SUBSID Y ON THE BASIS OF THE 18
PROSPECTIVE TENANT ’S INCOME, CREDIT SCORE , LACK OF CREDIT SCORE , OR 19
ADVERSE CREDIT HISTORY. 20
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSE CTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , A LANDLORD 21
THAT RECEIVES FUNDIN G FROM A GOVERNMENTA L ENTITY, A 22
QUASI–GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY , OR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON THAT REQUIRE S 23
INCOME QUALIFICATION FOR TENANTS IN INCOM E–RESTRICTED RENTAL UN ITS MAY 24
COLLECT FINANCIAL IN FORMATION FROM A PRO SPECTIVE TENANT IF T HE 25
COLLECTION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION IS A CONDITION OF THE F UNDING. 26
20–1020. 27
(a) In this part the following words have the meanings indicated. 28
(e) “Discriminatory housing practice” means an act that is prohibited under § 29
20–705, § 20–705.1, § 20–706, § 20–707, or § 20–708 of this title. 30
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 31
October 1, 2025. 32