2019 Legislative Update: Housing

PBRC supported the following housing legislation during the 2019 Maryland General Assembly to help meet the needs of low-income Marylanders.

Tax Sale
HB1209: Homeowner Protections and tax sale. The final, amended legislation creates an Ombudsman in the State Department of Assessment and Taxation to help homeowners navigate the tax sale system, and adds additional protections for homeowners, particularly those who are elderly, disabled and low income.

Sponsor: Chairwoman Kaiser
Status: Passed both chambers and is headed to Governor Hogan.

HB1305/SB261: Estates – Waiver of fees. This legislation requires that Registers of Wills waive their fees to open estates in cases of tax sale and if the person is represented by a MLSC funded organization.

Sponsors: Senator Ferguson, Delegate Ivey
Status: Passed both chambers and is headed to Governor Hogan.

SB96: Tax Sale – Water Liens. This legislation removes water liens from tax sale for residential properties and places of worship in Baltimore City.

Sponsor: Senators Washington
Status: Passed both chambers and is headed to Governor Hogan.

Vacant Properties
SB509/HB557: Judicial In Rem process. The final, amended legislation enables jurisdictions to use a different system for addressing tax sale properties that are vacant and abandoned, by selling the property rather than the lien certificate in these cases. This system applies to properties with liens greater than the value of the property.

Sponsors: Senator Eckardt, Delegate Holmes
Status: Passed both chambers and is headed to Governor Hogan.