| 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 | Underlining indicates amendments to bill. | |
| 6 | 6 | Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by | |
| 7 | 7 | amendment. | |
| 8 | - | Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments. | |
| 9 | 8 | *sb0856* | |
| 10 | 9 | ||
| 11 | 10 | SENATE BILL 856 | |
| 12 | - | M3, N1 (5lr2629) | |
| 13 | - | ENROLLED BILL | |
| 14 | - | — Judicial Proceedings and Education, Energy, and the Environment/Environment | |
| 15 | - | and Transportation — | |
| 16 | - | Introduced by Senator Henson | |
| 11 | + | M3, N1 5lr2629 | |
| 17 | 12 | ||
| 18 | - | Read and Examined by Proofreaders: | |
| 19 | - | ||
| 20 | - | _______________________________________________ | |
| 21 | - | Proofreader. | |
| 22 | - | _______________________________________________ | |
| 23 | - | Proofreader. | |
| 24 | - | ||
| 25 | - | Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this | |
| 26 | - | ||
| 27 | - | _______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M. | |
| 28 | - | ||
| 29 | - | ______________________________________________ | |
| 30 | - | President. | |
| 13 | + | By: Senator Henson | |
| 14 | + | Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2025 | |
| 15 | + | Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings and Education, Energy, and the Environment | |
| 16 | + | Committee Report: Favorable with amendments | |
| 17 | + | Senate action: Adopted | |
| 18 | + | Read second time: February 25, 2025 | |
| 31 | 19 | ||
| 32 | 20 | CHAPTER ______ | |
| 33 | 21 | ||
| 34 | 22 | AN ACT concerning 1 | |
| 35 | 23 | ||
| 36 | 24 | Mold – Landlord Requirements and Regulations 2 | |
| 37 | 25 | (Maryland Tenant Mold Protection Act) 3 | |
| 38 | 26 | ||
| 39 | 27 | FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of the Environment, the Maryland 4 | |
| 40 | 28 | Department of Health, the Department of Housing and Community Development, 5 | |
| 41 | 29 | the Maryland Department of Labor, and the Department of General Services to 6 | |
| 42 | 30 | develop a certain pamphlet and website; requiring a landlord to provide a tenant 7 | |
| 43 | 31 | with certain information at certain times and in a certain manner; requiring a 8 | |
| 44 | 32 | landlord to perform certain tasks within a certain time upon receiving a certain 9 | |
| 45 | 33 | notice; requiring the Department of the Environment, in consultation with the 10 | |
| 46 | 34 | Maryland Department of Health, the Department of Housing and Community 11 | |
| 47 | 35 | Development, and the Department of General Services, to adopt certain regulations 12 | |
| 48 | - | on or before a certain date establishing uniform standards for mold assessment and 13 2 SENATE BILL 856 | |
| 36 | + | on or before a certain date establishing uniform standards for mold assessment and 13 | |
| 37 | + | remediation and reinforcing building codes; and generally relating to mold 14 | |
| 38 | + | prevention, assessment, and remediation. 15 | |
| 39 | + | ||
| 40 | + | BY adding to 16 | |
| 41 | + | Article – Environment 17 | |
| 42 | + | Section 6–1702 18 | |
| 43 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 19 | |
| 44 | + | (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20 | |
| 45 | + | ||
| 46 | + | BY adding to 21 | |
| 47 | + | Article – Real Property 22 | |
| 48 | + | Section 8–121 23 2 SENATE BILL 856 | |
| 49 | 49 | ||
| 50 | 50 | ||
| 51 | - | ||
| 52 | - | ||
| 51 | + | Annotated Code of Maryland 1 | |
| 52 | + | (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 2 | |
| 53 | 53 | ||
| 54 | - | BY adding to 3 | |
| 55 | - | Article – Environment 4 | |
| 56 | - | Section 6–1702 5 | |
| 57 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 6 | |
| 58 | - | (2013 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 7 | |
| 54 | + | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3 | |
| 55 | + | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 4 | |
| 59 | 56 | ||
| 60 | - | BY adding to 8 | |
| 61 | - | Article – Real Property 9 | |
| 62 | - | Section 8–121 8–220 10 | |
| 63 | - | Annotated Code of Maryland 11 | |
| 64 | - | (2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12 | |
| 57 | + | Article – Environment 5 | |
| 65 | 58 | ||
| 66 | - | SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13 | |
| 67 | - | That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14 | |
| 68 | - | ||
| 69 | - | Article – Environment 15 | |
| 70 | - | ||
| 71 | - | 6–1702. 16 | |
| 72 | - | ||
| 73 | - | (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 17 | |
| 74 | - | INDICATED. 18 | |
| 75 | - | ||
| 76 | - | (2) “DAMPNESS” MEANS ABNORMAL MOIST URE IN THE INTERIOR OF 19 | |
| 77 | - | A FACILITY, INCLUDING: 20 | |
| 78 | - | ||
| 79 | - | (I) EXCESSIVE HUMIDITY LE VELS; 21 | |
| 80 | - | ||
| 81 | - | (II) LINGERING CONDENSATIO N; 22 | |
| 82 | - | ||
| 83 | - | (III) LEAKS; 23 | |
| 84 | - | ||
| 85 | - | (IV) WATER DAMAGE ; AND 24 | |
| 86 | - | ||
| 87 | - | (V) MUSTY OR MOLDY ODORS . 25 | |
| 88 | - | ||
| 89 | - | (3) (I) “MOLD” MEANS A FORM OF MULT ICELLULAR FUNGI THAT 26 | |
| 90 | - | LIVES: 27 | |
| 91 | - | ||
| 92 | - | 1. ON PLANT OR ANIMAL MA TTER; OR 28 | |
| 93 | - | ||
| 94 | - | 2. IN AN INDOOR ENVIRONM ENT. 29 | |
| 95 | - | SENATE BILL 856 3 | |
| 96 | - | ||
| 97 | - | ||
| 98 | - | (II) “MOLD” INCLUDES: 1 | |
| 99 | - | ||
| 100 | - | 1. ALTERNARIA; 2 | |
| 101 | - | ||
| 102 | - | 2. ASPERGILLUS; 3 | |
| 103 | - | ||
| 104 | - | 3. CLADOSPORIUM ; 4 | |
| 105 | - | ||
| 106 | - | 4. FUSARIUM; 5 | |
| 107 | - | ||
| 108 | - | 5. MEMNONIELLA ; 6 | |
| 109 | - | ||
| 110 | - | 6. MUCOR; 7 | |
| 111 | - | ||
| 112 | - | 7. PENICILLIUM; 8 | |
| 113 | - | ||
| 114 | - | 8. STACHYBOTRYS CHARTARU M; AND 9 | |
| 115 | - | ||
| 116 | - | 9. TRICHODERMA . 10 | |
| 117 | - | ||
| 118 | - | (4) “MOLD REMEDIATION ” MEANS: 11 | |
| 119 | - | ||
| 120 | - | (I) REMOVING, CLEANING, SANITIZING, DEMOLISHING , OR ANY 12 | |
| 121 | - | OTHER TREATMENT PERF ORMED TO ADDRESS A M OLD HAZARD , MOLD, OR 13 | |
| 122 | - | DAMPNESS; OR 14 | |
| 123 | - | ||
| 124 | - | (II) ABATEMENT OF THE UNDE RLYING CAUSE OF A MO LD 15 | |
| 125 | - | HAZARD, MOLD, OR DAMPNESS . 16 | |
| 126 | - | ||
| 127 | - | (B) THE DEPARTMENT , IN COORDINATION WITH THE MARYLAND 17 | |
| 128 | - | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY 18 | |
| 129 | - | DEVELOPMENT , THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, AND THE DEPARTMENT 19 | |
| 130 | - | OF GENERAL SERVICES, SHALL DEVELOP AND UP DATE AS NECESSARY : 20 | |
| 131 | - | ||
| 132 | - | (1) A CENTRALIZED WEBSITE PROVIDING INFORMATIO N ABOUT 21 | |
| 133 | - | MOLD REMEDIATION AND DAMPNESS; AND 22 | |
| 134 | - | ||
| 135 | - | (2) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , AN 23 | |
| 136 | - | INFORMATIONAL PAMPHL ET ON MOLD THAT INCL UDES: 24 | |
| 137 | - | ||
| 138 | - | (I) RESOURCES IN THE STATE RELATING TO MOL D; AND 25 | |
| 139 | - | ||
| 140 | - | (II) HOW TENAN TS CAN CONTROL MOLD GROWTH IN THEIR 26 | |
| 141 | - | UNIT. 27 4 SENATE BILL 856 | |
| 142 | - | ||
| 143 | - | ||
| 144 | - | ||
| 145 | - | (C) INSTEAD OF DEVELOPING A PAMPHLET UNDER SUB SECTION (B)(2) OF 1 | |
| 146 | - | THIS SECTION , THE DEPARTMENT MAY USE TH E U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL 2 | |
| 147 | - | PROTECTION AGENCY’S “BRIEF GUIDE TO MOLD, MOISTURE AND YOUR HOME” 3 | |
| 148 | - | PAMPHLET. 4 | |
| 149 | - | ||
| 150 | - | Article – Real Property 5 | |
| 151 | - | ||
| 152 | - | 8–121. 8–220. 6 | |
| 59 | + | 6–1702. 6 | |
| 153 | 60 | ||
| 154 | 61 | (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 7 | |
| 155 | 62 | INDICATED. 8 | |
| 156 | 63 | ||
| 157 | - | (2) “ | |
| 158 | - | ||
| 64 | + | (2) “DAMPNESS” MEANS ABNORMAL MOIST URE IN THE INTERIOR OF 9 | |
| 65 | + | A FACILITY, INCLUDING: 10 | |
| 159 | 66 | ||
| 160 | - | ( | |
| 67 | + | (I) EXCESSIVE HUMIDITY LE VELS; 11 | |
| 161 | 68 | ||
| 162 | - | (I) AN INSPECTION, AN INVESTIGATION , OR A SURVEY OF A 12 | |
| 163 | - | DWELLING OR OTHER ST RUCTURE TO PROVIDE I NFORMATION TO THE OW NER 13 | |
| 164 | - | REGARDING THE PRESEN CE, IDENTIFICATION , OR EVALUATION OF MOL D; 14 | |
| 69 | + | (II) LINGERING CONDENSATIO N; 12 | |
| 165 | 70 | ||
| 166 | - | ( | |
| 71 | + | (III) LEAKS; 13 | |
| 167 | 72 | ||
| 168 | - | ( | |
| 73 | + | (IV) WATER DAMAGE ; AND 14 | |
| 169 | 74 | ||
| 170 | - | (4) “MOLD REMEDIATION ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 6–1702 OF 17 | |
| 171 | - | THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE. 18 | |
| 75 | + | (V) MUSTY OR MOLDY ODORS . 15 | |
| 172 | 76 | ||
| 173 | - | (B) A LANDLORD SHALL : 19 | |
| 77 | + | (3) (I) “MOLD” MEANS A FORM OF MULT ICELLULAR FUNGI THAT 16 | |
| 78 | + | LIVES: 17 | |
| 174 | 79 | ||
| 175 | - | (1) PROVIDE THE PAMPHLET DEVELOPED OR USED UN DER § 6–1702 20 | |
| 176 | - | OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE TO EACH TENAN T IN A RENTAL UNIT O N THE 21 | |
| 177 | - | LANDLORD’S PROPERTY: 22 | |
| 80 | + | 1. ON PLANT OR ANIMAL MA TTER; OR 18 | |
| 178 | 81 | ||
| 179 | - | (I) AT THE TIME THE LEASE OR RENTAL AGREEMENT IS 23 | |
| 180 | - | SIGNED; AND 24 | |
| 82 | + | 2. IN AN INDOOR ENVIRONM ENT. 19 | |
| 181 | 83 | ||
| 182 | - | (II) EVERY 2 YEARS THEREAFTER ON REQUEST BY A TENAN T OF 25 | |
| 183 | - | THE RENTAL UNIT ; AND 26 | |
| 84 | + | (II) “MOLD” INCLUDES: 20 | |
| 184 | 85 | ||
| 185 | - | (2) REQUEST THAT A TENANT SIGN A STATEMENT ACK NOWLEDGING 27 | |
| 186 | - | RECEIPT OF THE PAMPH LET. 28 | |
| 86 | + | 1. ALTERNARIA; 21 | |
| 87 | + | ||
| 88 | + | 2. ASPERGILLUS; 22 | |
| 89 | + | ||
| 90 | + | 3. CLADOSPORIUM ; 23 | |
| 91 | + | ||
| 92 | + | 4. FUSARIUM; 24 | |
| 93 | + | ||
| 94 | + | 5. MEMNONIELLA ; 25 | |
| 95 | + | SENATE BILL 856 3 | |
| 96 | + | ||
| 97 | + | ||
| 98 | + | 6. MUCOR; 1 | |
| 99 | + | ||
| 100 | + | 7. PENICILLIUM; 2 | |
| 101 | + | ||
| 102 | + | 8. STACHYBOTRYS CHARTARU M; AND 3 | |
| 103 | + | ||
| 104 | + | 9. TRICHODERMA . 4 | |
| 105 | + | ||
| 106 | + | (4) “MOLD REMEDIATION ” MEANS: 5 | |
| 107 | + | ||
| 108 | + | (I) REMOVING, CLEANING, SANITIZING, DEMOLISHING , OR ANY 6 | |
| 109 | + | OTHER TREATMENT PERF ORMED TO ADDRESS A M OLD HAZARD , MOLD, OR 7 | |
| 110 | + | DAMPNESS; OR 8 | |
| 111 | + | ||
| 112 | + | (II) ABATEMENT OF THE UNDE RLYING CAUSE OF A MO LD 9 | |
| 113 | + | HAZARD, MOLD, OR DAMPNESS . 10 | |
| 114 | + | ||
| 115 | + | (B) THE DEPARTMENT , IN COORDINATION WITH THE MARYLAND 11 | |
| 116 | + | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY 12 | |
| 117 | + | DEVELOPMENT , THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, AND THE DEPARTMENT 13 | |
| 118 | + | OF GENERAL SERVICES, SHALL DEVELOP AND UP DATE AS NECESSARY : 14 | |
| 119 | + | ||
| 120 | + | (1) A CENTRALIZED WEBSITE PROVIDING INFORMATIO N ABOUT 15 | |
| 121 | + | MOLD REMEDIATION AND DAMPNESS; AND 16 | |
| 122 | + | ||
| 123 | + | (2) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , AN 17 | |
| 124 | + | INFORMATIONAL PAMPHL ET ON MOLD THAT INCL UDES: 18 | |
| 125 | + | ||
| 126 | + | (I) RESOURCES IN THE STATE RELATING TO MOL D; AND 19 | |
| 127 | + | ||
| 128 | + | (II) HOW TENANTS CAN CONTR OL MOLD GROWTH IN TH EIR 20 | |
| 129 | + | UNIT. 21 | |
| 130 | + | ||
| 131 | + | (C) INSTEAD OF DEVELOPING A PAMPHLET UNDER SUB SECTION (B)(2) OF 22 | |
| 132 | + | THIS SECTION , THE DEPARTMENT MAY USE TH E U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL 23 | |
| 133 | + | PROTECTION AGENCY’S “BRIEF GUIDE TO MOLD, MOISTURE AND YOUR HOME” 24 | |
| 134 | + | PAMPHLET. 25 | |
| 135 | + | ||
| 136 | + | Article – Real Property 26 | |
| 137 | + | ||
| 138 | + | 8–121. 27 | |
| 139 | + | ||
| 140 | + | (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 28 | |
| 141 | + | INDICATED. 29 | |
| 142 | + | 4 SENATE BILL 856 | |
| 143 | + | ||
| 144 | + | ||
| 145 | + | (2) “MOLD” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 6–1702 OF THE 1 | |
| 146 | + | ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE. 2 | |
| 147 | + | ||
| 148 | + | (3) “MOLD ASSESSMENT ” MEANS: 3 | |
| 149 | + | ||
| 150 | + | (I) AN INSPECTION, AN INVESTIGATION , OR A SURVEY OF A 4 | |
| 151 | + | DWELLING OR OTHER ST RUCTURE TO PROVIDE I NFORMATION TO THE OW NER 5 | |
| 152 | + | REGARDING THE PRESEN CE, IDENTIFICATION, OR EVALUATION OF MOL D; 6 | |
| 153 | + | ||
| 154 | + | (II) THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MOLD MANAGEMENT PLAN ; OR 7 | |
| 155 | + | ||
| 156 | + | (III) THE COLLECTION OR ANA LYSIS OF A MOLD SAMP LE. 8 | |
| 157 | + | ||
| 158 | + | (4) “MOLD REMEDIATION ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 6–1702 OF 9 | |
| 159 | + | THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE. 10 | |
| 160 | + | ||
| 161 | + | (B) A LANDLORD SHALL : 11 | |
| 162 | + | ||
| 163 | + | (1) PROVIDE THE PAMPHLET DEVELOPED OR USED UN DER § 6–1702 12 | |
| 164 | + | OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE TO EACH TENAN T IN A RENTAL UNIT O N THE 13 | |
| 165 | + | LANDLORD’S PROPERTY: 14 | |
| 166 | + | ||
| 167 | + | (I) AT THE TIME THE LEASE OR RENTAL AGREEMENT IS 15 | |
| 168 | + | SIGNED; AND 16 | |
| 169 | + | ||
| 170 | + | (II) EVERY 2 YEARS THEREAFTER ON REQUEST BY A TENAN T OF 17 | |
| 171 | + | THE RENTAL UNIT ; AND 18 | |
| 172 | + | ||
| 173 | + | (2) REQUEST THAT A TENANT SIGN A STATEMENT ACK NOWLEDGING 19 | |
| 174 | + | RECEIPT OF THE PAMPH LET. 20 | |
| 175 | + | ||
| 176 | + | (C) (1) A LANDLORD SHALL PERFO RM A MOLD ASSESSMENT AND MOLD 21 | |
| 177 | + | REMEDIATION WITHIN 45 DAYS WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN 22 | |
| 178 | + | NOTICE REGARDING THE DETECTION OF MOLD FR OM: 23 | |
| 179 | + | ||
| 180 | + | (I) THE APPLICABLE LOCAL AGENCY ENFORCING HOU SING 24 | |
| 181 | + | AND LIVABILITY CODES ; OR 25 | |
| 182 | + | ||
| 183 | + | (II) A TENANT OR BUILDING O CCUPANT. 26 | |
| 184 | + | ||
| 185 | + | (2) IF THE ASSESSMENT IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 27 | |
| 186 | + | DETECTS MO LD, A LANDLORD SHALL : 28 | |
| 187 | 187 | SENATE BILL 856 5 | |
| 188 | 188 | ||
| 189 | 189 | ||
| 190 | - | (C) (1) A LANDLORD SHALL PERFO RM A MOLD ASSESSMENT AND MOLD 1 | |
| 191 | - | REMEDIATION WITHIN 45 DAYS WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A W RITTEN 2 | |
| 192 | - | NOTICE REGARDING THE DETECTION OF MOLD FR OM: 3 | |
| 190 | + | (I) PERFORM MOLD REMEDIAT ION WITHIN 45 DAYS AFTER THE 1 | |
| 191 | + | ASSESSMENT IS COMPLE TED; OR 2 | |
| 193 | 192 | ||
| 194 | - | (I) THE APPLICABLE LOCAL AGENCY ENFORCING HOU SING 4 | |
| 195 | - | AND LIVABILITY CODES ; OR 5 | |
| 193 | + | (II) IF PERFORMING MOLD RE MEDIATION WITHIN THE TIME 3 | |
| 194 | + | FRAME SPECIFIED IN I TEM (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH IS NOT FEASIBLE , WITHIN A 4 | |
| 195 | + | REASONABLE TIME AFTER THE ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETED . 5 | |
| 196 | 196 | ||
| 197 | - | (II) A TENANT OR BUILDING O CCUPANT. 6 | |
| 197 | + | (3) A LANDLORD SHALL ENSUR E THAT THE MOLD ASSE SSMENT AND 6 | |
| 198 | + | MOLD REMEDIATION UND ER PARAGRAPH (1) PARAGRAPHS (1) AND (2) OF THIS 7 | |
| 199 | + | SUBSECTION FOLLOWS T HE RECOMMENDED INDUS TRY GUIDELINES AND B EST 8 | |
| 200 | + | PRACTICES AND STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS . 9 | |
| 198 | 201 | ||
| 199 | - | (2) IF THE ASSESSMENT IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 7 | |
| 200 | - | DETECTS MOLD , A LANDLORD SHALL : 8 | |
| 202 | + | (D) A LANDLORD SHALL : 10 | |
| 201 | 203 | ||
| 202 | - | (I) PERFORM MOLD REMEDIAT ION WITHIN 45 DAYS AFTER THE 9 | |
| 203 | - | ASSESSMENT IS COMPLE TED; OR 10 | |
| 204 | + | (1) COMMUNICATE WITH OCCU PANTS DURING A MOLD ASSESSMENT 11 | |
| 205 | + | AND MOLD REMEDIATION UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION TO P ROVIDE 12 | |
| 206 | + | UPDATES AND RELEVANT INFORMATION ; 13 | |
| 204 | 207 | ||
| 205 | - | (II) IF PERFORMING MOLD RE MEDIATION WITHIN THE TIME 11 | |
| 206 | - | FRAME SPECIFIED IN I TEM (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH IS NOT FEASIBLE , WITHIN A 12 | |
| 207 | - | REASONABLE TIME AFTE R THE ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETED . 13 | |
| 208 | + | (2) ENSURE PROPER VENTILA TION IN THE PROPERTY; 14 | |
| 208 | 209 | ||
| 209 | - | (3) A LANDLORD SHALL ENSUR E THAT THE MOLD ASSE SSMENT AND 14 | |
| 210 | - | MOLD REMEDIATION UND ER PARAGRAPH (1) PARAGRAPHS (1) AND (2) OF THIS 15 | |
| 211 | - | SUBSECTION FOLLOWS T HE RECOMMENDED INDUS TRY GUIDELINES AND B EST 16 | |
| 212 | - | PRACTICES AND STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS . 17 | |
| 210 | + | (3) ENSURE LOW INDOOR REL ATIVE HUMIDITY IN TH E PROPERTY; 15 | |
| 211 | + | AND 16 | |
| 213 | 212 | ||
| 214 | - | (D) A LANDLORD SHALL : 18 | |
| 213 | + | (4) MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH A LL 17 | |
| 214 | + | APPLICABLE FEDERAL , STATE, AND LOCAL RESIDENTIA L HOUSING AND BUILDI NG 18 | |
| 215 | + | CODES, STANDARDS, REGULATIONS , RULES, AND REQUIREMENTS PER TAINING TO 19 | |
| 216 | + | MINIMUM LIVABILITY U NDER § 12–203 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE. 20 | |
| 215 | 217 | ||
| 216 | - | (1) COMMUNICATE WITH OCCU PANTS DURING A MOLD ASSESSMENT 19 | |
| 217 | - | AND MOLD REMEDIATION UNDER SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION TO P ROVIDE 20 | |
| 218 | - | UPDATES AND RELEVANT INFORMATION ; 21 | |
| 218 | + | SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 21 | |
| 219 | 219 | ||
| 220 | - | ( | |
| 220 | + | (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 22 | |
| 221 | 221 | ||
| 222 | - | ( | |
| 223 | - | ||
| 222 | + | (2) “Dampness” means abnormal moisture in the interior of a facility, 23 | |
| 223 | + | including: 24 | |
| 224 | 224 | ||
| 225 | - | (4) MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH A LL 25 | |
| 226 | - | APPLICABLE FEDERAL , STATE, AND LOCAL RESIDENTIA L HOUSING AND BUILDI NG 26 | |
| 227 | - | CODES, STANDARDS, REGULATIONS , RULES, AND REQUIREMENTS PER TAINING TO 27 | |
| 228 | - | MINIMUM LIVABILITY U NDER § 12–203 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE. 28 | |
| 225 | + | (i) excessive humidity levels; 25 | |
| 229 | 226 | ||
| 230 | - | (E) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 29 | |
| 231 | - | NOTHING IN THIS SECT ION MAY BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE A LOCAL G OVERNMENT 30 | |
| 232 | - | OR LOCAL HEALTH DEPA RTMENT TO CONDUCT A MOLD ASSESSMENT OR M OLD 31 | |
| 233 | - | REMEDIATION . 32 6 SENATE BILL 856 | |
| 227 | + | (ii) lingering condensation; 26 | |
| 228 | + | ||
| 229 | + | (iii) leaks; 27 | |
| 230 | + | ||
| 231 | + | (iv) water damage; and 28 | |
| 232 | + | ||
| 233 | + | (v) musty or moldy odors. 29 | |
| 234 | + | 6 SENATE BILL 856 | |
| 234 | 235 | ||
| 235 | 236 | ||
| 237 | + | (3) (i) “Mold” means a form of multicellular fungi that lives: 1 | |
| 236 | 238 | ||
| 237 | - | (2) IF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT OWNS OR MANAGES A RE SIDENTIAL 1 | |
| 238 | - | PROPERTY, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR LOCAL HOUSING AUT HORITY SHALL 2 | |
| 239 | - | COMPLY WITH THIS SEC TION WITH RESPECT TO THE RESIDENTIAL PROP ERTY. 3 | |
| 239 | + | 1. on plant or animal matter; or 2 | |
| 240 | 240 | ||
| 241 | - | ||
| 241 | + | 2. in an indoor environment. 3 | |
| 242 | 242 | ||
| 243 | - | ( | |
| 243 | + | (ii) “Mold” includes: 4 | |
| 244 | 244 | ||
| 245 | - | (2) “Dampness” means abnormal moisture in the interior of a facility, 6 | |
| 246 | - | including: 7 | |
| 245 | + | 1. Alternaria; 5 | |
| 247 | 246 | ||
| 248 | - | | |
| 247 | + | 2. Aspergillus; 6 | |
| 249 | 248 | ||
| 250 | - | | |
| 249 | + | 3. Cladosporium; 7 | |
| 251 | 250 | ||
| 252 | - | | |
| 251 | + | 4. Fusarium; 8 | |
| 253 | 252 | ||
| 254 | - | | |
| 253 | + | 5. Memnoniella; 9 | |
| 255 | 254 | ||
| 256 | - | | |
| 255 | + | 6. Mucor; 10 | |
| 257 | 256 | ||
| 258 | - | | |
| 257 | + | 7. Penicillium; 11 | |
| 259 | 258 | ||
| 260 | - | | |
| 259 | + | 8. Stachybotrys chartarum; and 12 | |
| 261 | 260 | ||
| 262 | - | | |
| 261 | + | 9. Trichoderma. 13 | |
| 263 | 262 | ||
| 264 | - | ( | |
| 263 | + | (4) “Mold assessment” means: 14 | |
| 265 | 264 | ||
| 266 | - | 1. Alternaria; 17 | |
| 265 | + | (i) an inspection, an investigation, or a survey of a dwelling or other 15 | |
| 266 | + | structure to provide information to the owner regarding the presence, identification, or 16 | |
| 267 | + | evaluation of mold; 17 | |
| 267 | 268 | ||
| 268 | - | | |
| 269 | + | (ii) the development of a mold management plan; or 18 | |
| 269 | 270 | ||
| 270 | - | | |
| 271 | + | (iii) the collection or analysis of a mold sample. 19 | |
| 271 | 272 | ||
| 272 | - | 4. Fusarium; 20 | |
| 273 | + | (5) “Mold hazard” means an adverse human health effect associated with 20 | |
| 274 | + | mold exposure, including: 21 | |
| 273 | 275 | ||
| 274 | - | | |
| 276 | + | (i) allergic reactions; 22 | |
| 275 | 277 | ||
| 276 | - | | |
| 278 | + | (ii) asthma; and 23 | |
| 277 | 279 | ||
| 278 | - | | |
| 280 | + | (iii) any other respiratory complaints. 24 | |
| 279 | 281 | ||
| 280 | - | | |
| 282 | + | (6) “Mold remediation” means: 25 | |
| 281 | 283 | SENATE BILL 856 7 | |
| 282 | 284 | ||
| 283 | 285 | ||
| 284 | - | 9. Trichoderma. 1 | |
| 286 | + | (i) removing, cleaning, sanitizing, demolishing, or any other 1 | |
| 287 | + | treatment performed to address a mold hazard, mold, or dampness; or 2 | |
| 285 | 288 | ||
| 286 | - | (4) “Mold assessment” means: 2 | |
| 289 | + | (ii) abatement of the underlying cause of a mold hazard, mold, or 3 | |
| 290 | + | dampness. 4 | |
| 287 | 291 | ||
| 288 | - | (i) an inspection, an investigation, or a survey of a dwelling or other 3 | |
| 289 | - | structure to provide information to the owner regarding the presence, identification, or 4 | |
| 290 | - | evaluation of mold; 5 | |
| 292 | + | (b) On or before June 1, 2027, the Department of the Environment, in 5 | |
| 293 | + | consultation with the Maryland Department of Health, the Department of Housing and 6 | |
| 294 | + | Community Development, and the Department of General Services, shall adopt regulations 7 | |
| 295 | + | establishing uniform standards for mold assessment and mold remediation. 8 | |
| 291 | 296 | ||
| 292 | - | ( | |
| 297 | + | (c) The regulations adopted under this section shall: 9 | |
| 293 | 298 | ||
| 294 | - | ( | |
| 299 | + | (1) establish standards for: 10 | |
| 295 | 300 | ||
| 296 | - | ( | |
| 297 | - | mold | |
| 301 | + | (i) identifying and evaluating the presence of mold, including visible 11 | |
| 302 | + | mold inspection and testing; 12 | |
| 298 | 303 | ||
| 299 | - | ( | |
| 304 | + | (ii) mold air sample analyses in accordance with the standards of: 13 | |
| 300 | 305 | ||
| 301 | - | (ii) asthma; and 11 | |
| 306 | + | 1. the Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Accreditation 14 | |
| 307 | + | Program at the American Industrial Hygiene Association; 15 | |
| 302 | 308 | ||
| 303 | - | | |
| 309 | + | 2. the American Indoor Air Quality Council; or 16 | |
| 304 | 310 | ||
| 305 | - | (6) “Mold remediation” means: 13 | |
| 311 | + | 3. any other nationally recognized accreditation entity that 17 | |
| 312 | + | operates independently of industry trade associations; 18 | |
| 306 | 313 | ||
| 307 | - | ( | |
| 308 | - | ||
| 314 | + | (iii) bulk or surface mold sample analyses conducted in accordance 19 | |
| 315 | + | with the standards of: 20 | |
| 309 | 316 | ||
| 310 | - | (ii) abatement of the underlying cause of a mold hazard, mold, or 16 | |
| 311 | - | dampness. 17 | |
| 317 | + | 1. the American Industrial Hygiene Association; 21 | |
| 312 | 318 | ||
| 313 | - | (b) On or before June 1, 2027, the Department of the Environment, in 18 | |
| 314 | - | consultation with the Maryland Department of Health, the Department of Housing and 19 | |
| 315 | - | Community Development, and the Department of General Services, shall adopt regulations 20 | |
| 316 | - | establishing uniform standards for mold assessment and mold remediation. 21 | |
| 319 | + | 2. the American Conference of Governmental Industrial 22 | |
| 320 | + | Hygienists; or 23 | |
| 317 | 321 | ||
| 318 | - | | |
| 322 | + | 3. a similar nationally recognized professional organization; 24 | |
| 319 | 323 | ||
| 320 | - | (1) establish standards for: 23 | |
| 324 | + | (iv) visible mold inspections to assess the presence of any visible 25 | |
| 325 | + | water damage or dampness on surfaces, including ceiling tiles and gypsum wallboard; 26 | |
| 321 | 326 | ||
| 322 | - | (i) identifying and evaluating the presence of mold, including visible 24 | |
| 323 | - | mold inspection and testing; 25 | |
| 327 | + | (v) mold remediation in accordance with the U.S. Environmental 27 | |
| 328 | + | Protection Agency’s 2008 “Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings” 28 | |
| 329 | + | guidelines as revised and updated; and 29 | |
| 324 | 330 | ||
| 325 | - | (ii) mold air sample analyses in accordance with the standards of: 26 | |
| 326 | - | ||
| 327 | - | 1. the Environmental Microbiology Laboratory Accreditation 27 | |
| 328 | - | Program at the American Industrial Hygiene Association; 28 | |
| 329 | - | ||
| 330 | - | 2. the American Indoor Air Quality Council; or 29 8 SENATE BILL 856 | |
| 331 | + | (vi) reinforcing building codes; and 30 | |
| 332 | + | 8 SENATE BILL 856 | |
| 331 | 333 | ||
| 332 | 334 | ||
| 335 | + | (2) establish a risk reduction standard for mold hazards. 1 | |
| 333 | 336 | ||
| 334 | - | 3. | |
| 335 | - | ||
| 337 | + | SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 2 | |
| 338 | + | 1, 2025. 3 | |
| 336 | 339 | ||
| 337 | - | (iii) bulk or surface mold sample analyses conducted in accordance 3 | |
| 338 | - | with the standards of: 4 | |
| 339 | - | ||
| 340 | - | 1. the American Industrial Hygiene Association; 5 | |
| 341 | - | ||
| 342 | - | 2. the American Conference of Governmental Industrial 6 | |
| 343 | - | Hygienists; or 7 | |
| 344 | - | ||
| 345 | - | 3. a similar nationally recognized professional organization; 8 | |
| 346 | - | ||
| 347 | - | (iv) visible mold inspections to assess the presence of any visible 9 | |
| 348 | - | water damage or dampness on surfaces, including ceiling tiles and gypsum wallboard; 10 | |
| 349 | - | ||
| 350 | - | (v) mold remediation in accordance with the U.S. Environmental 11 | |
| 351 | - | Protection Agency’s 2008 “Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings” 12 | |
| 352 | - | guidelines as revised and updated; and 13 | |
| 353 | - | ||
| 354 | - | (vi) reinforcing building codes; and 14 | |
| 355 | - | ||
| 356 | - | (2) establish a risk reduction standard for mold hazards. 15 | |
| 357 | - | ||
| 358 | - | SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 16 | |
| 359 | - | 1, 2025. 17 | |
| 360 | 340 | ||
| 361 | 341 | ||
| 362 | 342 | ||
| 363 | 343 | Approved: | |
| 364 | 344 | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 365 | 345 | Governor. | |
| 366 | 346 | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 367 | 347 | President of the Senate. | |
| 368 | 348 | ________________________________________________________________________________ | |
| 369 | 349 | Speaker of the House of Delegates. |