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Authorizing a county board of education to consider the provision of educator workforce housing as a school purpose under certain provisions of law; altering the eligible recipients of certain financial assistance and the housing innovation projects the Department of Housing and Community Development shall prioritize for certain financial assistance under the Housing Innovation Pilot Program; etc.

Providing that it is lawful for a person to intercept an oral communication if the person is working as a fair housing tester for a fair housing testing program operated by the federal government, the State, a local government, or a nonprofit civil rights organization under certain circumstances; and providing that the contents of an intercepted oral communication may be used only for the purpose of enforcing federal, State, or local fair housing laws.

Prohibiting local jurisdictions from adopting or enforcing certain zoning provisions relating to lot size, dimensions, setback requirements, lot coverage, and design or architectural elements for certain single-family homes with certain exceptions; prohibiting local jurisdictions from prohibiting certain housing types in certain zones; and prohibiting local jurisdictions from prohibiting certain subdivisions of certain lot types.

Altering from 45 to 15 the number of days that a political subdivision has to approve or deny a certain application for financial assistance under the Neighborhood Business Development Program from the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Repealing a certain requirement for approval by a political subdivision of a certain application for financial assistance under the Neighborhood Business Development Program from the Department of Housing and Community Development; etc.

Prohibiting local jurisdictions from adopting or enforcing certain zoning provisions relating to lot size, dimensions, setback requirements, lot coverage, and design or architectural elements for certain single-family homes; prohibiting local jurisdictions from prohibiting certain housing types in certain zones; and prohibiting local jurisdictions from prohibiting certain subdivisions of certain lot types.

Requiring, on or before November 30, 2026, the Department of Housing and Community Development to conduct a study and make recommendations on reducing food deserts in Baltimore County and submit its findings and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and Environment, the Senate Finance Committee, and the House Environment and Transportation Committee.

Requiring each county board of education to submit a student residency and school zones report to the Department of Planning and the Interagency Commission on School Construction by July 1 each year, beginning on July 1, 2026; requiring a county board to consult with certain municipalities and incorporate certain data when developing an education facilities master plan; providing that adequate public facilities ordinances may not delay the processing and completion of site development plans, but may delay construction starts; etc.

Providing that it is lawful for a person to intercept an oral communication if the person is working as a fair housing tester for a fair housing testing program operated by the federal government, the State, a local government, or a nonprofit civil rights organization under certain circumstances; and providing that the contents of an intercepted oral communication may be used only for the purpose of enforcing federal, State, or local fair housing laws.

Establishing the Maryland New Markets Development Program; requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to administer the Program; authorizing a credit against the State insurance premium receipts tax and certain State insurance retaliatory taxes, fees, charges, and penalties for certain equity investments in certain community development entities; authorizing the Department to recapture a credit under certain circumstances; limiting the credit amounts that may be issued to $18,750,000 for any taxable year; etc.

Requiring a landlord to provide air-conditioning to residential rental units in apartment buildings with four or more individual dwelling units in a certain manner beginning June 1, 2026, for newly constructed residential rental units and beginning October 1, 2026, for residential rental units that undergo renovation that includes the replacement or substantial upgrade of electrical systems or heating systems; and applying the Act prospectively.

Requiring a landlord to provide air-conditioning to residential rental units in apartment buildings with 10 or more individual dwelling units in a certain manner beginning June 1, 2026, for newly constructed residential rental units and beginning October 1, 2026, for residential rental units that undergo renovation that includes the replacement or substantial upgrade of electrical systems or heating systems; and applying the Act prospectively.

Requiring each county board of education to submit a student residency and school zones report to the Department of Planning and the Interagency Commission on School Construction on or before July 1 each year, beginning on July 1, 2026; prohibiting certain adequate public facilities ordinances from delaying the processing and completion of subdivision or site development plans; and authorizing certain adequate public facilities ordinances to delay the issuance of final permits.

Requiring a recipient of certain funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide information about certain housing counseling services that are available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to certain prospective residents; and requiring the Governor to appropriate $90,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal year thereafter for community development organizations to partner with certain housing counseling agencies providing housing counseling services.

Authorizing the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt certain regulations related to affirmatively furthering fair housing; prohibiting a person from acting in a certain manner that has a discriminatory effect; and providing that certain conduct necessary to achieve certain nondiscriminatory interests does not constitute a certain violation.

Requiring, beginning November 15, 2027, and each November 15 thereafter, certain broadband providers to report certain information to the Office of Statewide Broadband annually; and requiring by December 1, 2027, and each December 1 thereafter, the Office to determine whether the certain programs reported are sufficient to meet the needs of low-income consumers in the State and make any recommendations related to low-income consumer programs in the State.

Requiring the approval of a housing development project application by a local regulatory authority or the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to be governed only by certain laws and regulations in effect at the time of submission of a complete application; granting the proponent of an approved housing development project certain vested rights related to use and development for the longer of 5 years or a period determined by the local regulatory authority or the Commission; etc.

Establishing the Insufficient Condominium Reserve Account Grant Fund to provide grants to low-income unit owners of condominiums with insufficient reserve accounts to enable a low-income unit owner to pay increased assessments necessary for a condominium association to meet reserve account funding requirements; requiring that the Fund prioritize certain older adults; requiring the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish certain procedures, publicize the Fund and prioritize older owners; etc.

Requiring the approval of a housing development project application by a local regulatory authority or the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to be governed only by certain laws and regulations in effect at the time of submission of a complete application; granting the proponent of an approved housing development project certain vested rights related to use and development for the longer of 5 years or a period determined by the local regulatory authority of the Commission; etc.

Exempting certain real property owned by certain subsidiary entities of a certain nonprofit housing corporation from taxes and special assessments of the State or a political subdivision; and exempting certain real property of a certain nonprofit housing corporation from certain procedures for enforcement of a judgment against the nonprofit housing corporation.

Authorizing the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt certain regulations related to affirmatively furthering fair housing; providing that certain discriminatory housing practices may be committed without intent; prohibiting a person from acting in a certain manner that has a discriminatory effect; and providing that certain conduct necessary to achieve certain nondiscriminatory interests does not constitute a certain violation.

Altering the definition of "nonprofit housing corporation" for purposes of eligibility for an exemption from real property taxes and special assessments of the State or a political subdivision; exempting certain real property owned by certain subsidiary entities of a certain nonprofit housing corporation from taxes and special assessments of the State or a political subdivision; etc.

Modifying certain reporting requirements, boards, and commissions for practicability and efficiency; repealing certain reporting requirements that are unnecessary, obsolete, or duplicative; repealing as obsolete the Renewable Fuels Incentive Board, Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board, Two-Generation Family Economic Security Commission, and Commission on Trauma-Informed Care; repealing as unnecessary the Partnership for Workforce Quality Advisory Board; etc.

Establishing the Maryland New Markets Development Program; requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to administer the Program; authorizing a credit against the State insurance premium receipts tax and certain State insurance retaliatory taxes, fees, charges, and penalties for certain equity investments in certain community development entities; authorizing the Department to recapture a credit under certain circumstances; limiting the credit amounts that may be issued to $18,750,000 for any taxable year; etc.

Requiring each unit in the Executive Branch of State government responsible for issuing a permit related to housing construction to adopt procedures to streamline certain permitting processes for housing projects; requiring the State Housing Ombudsman, to the extent feasible, to ensure consistency between certain permitting processes developed by different units; and authorizing the delegation of certain tasks related to the review or approval of permits related to housing construction to certain local governmental units.

Establishing that certain local jurisdictions have an affirmative duty to create opportunities for housing by evaluating the suitability of vacant, unused, or underutilized commercial or industrial land for housing use; altering the requirements for the housing element of a certain comprehensive plan; requiring local jurisdictions to establish certain policies and adopt certain local laws to promote and encourage building middle housing units on certain land; etc.

Requiring certain broadband providers in the State to establish a program to provide certain broadband services to eligible low-income consumers on or before December 1, 2026; authorizing the Office of Statewide Broadband in the Department of Housing and Community Development to exempt certain providers from the requirement to establish a program; altering the duties of the Office; and establishing a Broadband Affordability Advisory Board.

Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to study and make recommendations regarding laws to require certain local jurisdictions to allow certain residential or mixed-use developments as permitted use on certain parcels or lots zoned for commercial use; and requiring the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2026.

Establishing the Affordable Multifamily Rental Housing Stabilization Program in the Department of Housing and Community Development to provide funds for emergency or urgent capital repair needs for certain multifamily housing; and authorizing the Governor to include an appropriation of $5,000,000 in the annual budget bill in fiscal years 2028 through 2031.

Requiring Charles County to establish a rent increase limit for units occupied by seniors.

Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development, Office of Landlord and Tenant Affairs in consultation with the Attorney General to develop a plan to identify certain severe health and safety risk properties in the State and take related actions; requiring the Department to submit the plan with recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by August 31, 2027; and requiring the Department to publish on its website the list of severe health and safety properties, including the names of the properties.

Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to study and make recommendations regarding laws to require certain local jurisdiction to allow certain residential or mixed-use developments as a permitted use on certain parcels or lots zoned for commercial use; and requiring the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2026.

Imposing an excise tax on the acquisition and excess ownership of certain single-family residences in the State by certain entities; providing for the calculation, collection, and distribution of the excise tax; establishing the Down Payment and Settlement Expense Loan Program Fund, which may be used only to provide financing for down payment and settlement expenses to enable eligible homebuyers to purchase homes; etc.

Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development, Office of Landlord and Tenant Affairs in consultation with the Attorney General, to develop a plan to identify certain severe health and safety risk properties in the State and take related actions; requiring the Department to submit the plan and certain recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by August 31, 2027; and requiring the Department to publish a list of the names of the severe health and safety risk properties publicly on its website.

Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to conduct a study and make recommendations on the availability and affordability of housing in Montgomery County; and requiring the Department to issue two interim reports and its final report of the findings and recommendation by February 1, 2029, to certain entities in Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Delegation to the General Assembly.

Requiring the Office of the Attorney General to investigate certain grievances and mediate certain resolutions between the clients and providers of certain federal- and State-assisted housing programs; establishing procedures for the filing, review, and investigation of certain grievances; requiring the Office to inform a grievant of certain legal services and provide assistance to certain legal service providers in relationship to a grievance; etc.

Expanding the definition of a qualified property for purposes of the Appraisal Gap From Historic Redlining Financial Assistance Program.

Requiring Charles County to establish a rent increase limit for units occupied by seniors that is no greater than the Consumer Price Index; and defining "senior" as an individual who is at least the age required to receive full Social Security retirement benefits.

Establishing that a "qualified project" is a certain residential project that has been subject to retaliatory downzoning; requiring a local jurisdiction to allow the density of a certain qualified project to exceed the density otherwise authorized; and permitting a certain qualified project to consist of certain types of developments with certain density limits under certain circumstances.

Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to operate a certification program for homeless shelters; prohibiting a certain homeless shelter from operating without a homeless shelter certification after a certain deadline; requiring the Department to develop certain requirements for certain homeless shelter certification classes; and requiring the Department to perform on-site monitoring of certain homeless shelters and implement a certain grievance process.

Replacing the term "landlord" with "residential housing provider" and "tenant" with "resident" in the context of residential leases.