HB 489

Maryland Department of Labor - Study on Building Code Requirements for Single-Staircase Buildings

Sponsor: Vaughn Stewart (District 19)Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: Public SafetyStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 504 (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to study building code requirements for single-staircase buildings in the State and other States and analyze best practices when drafting building code requirements; requiring the Department to make legislative and regulatory recommendations for the purpose of increasing the affordable housing supply by reducing barriers to multifamily housing development; and requiring the Department to report to the Governor and certain committees of the General Assembly by December 1, 2026.

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Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 17FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Jackson, Marcuslobbyist	Associated Builders and Contractors	Written (PDF)
FAV	Scepaniak, Michael	BaltPOP - Baltimoreans for People-Oriented Places	Written (PDF)
FAV	Smith, Stephen	Center for Building in North America	Oral
FAV	Williams, Justin	City of Baltimore	Oral
FAV	Kisicki, Carrielobbyist	Coalition for Smarter Growth	Written (PDF)
FAV	Reed, Danlobbyist	Greater Greater Washington	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Graf, Lorilobbyist	Maryland Building Industry Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	May, Lisalobbyist	Maryland REALTORS	Written (PDF)
FAV	Phillips, Robert	Maryland State Firefighter's Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Spokes, Joshua	People-Oriented Places	Oral
FAV	Delegate Stewart, Delegate Stewartlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Dorsey, Ryan	Individual	Oral
FAV	Frost, Julian	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Stewart, Vaughn	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Weeks, Jed	Individual	Position only
UNF	McKay, Mike	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Parts, Chris	AIA Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	Redding, Nicholaslobbyist	Preservation Maryland	Written (PDF)
INFO	Traynor, Owen	Maryland State Police	Written (PDF)
INFO	Rodnyansky, Seva	The Pew Charitable Trusts	Oral

Organizations on record

AIA MarylandFWA 1

Associated Builders and ContractorsFAV 1

BaltPOP - Baltimoreans for People-Oriented PlacesFAV 1

Center for Building in North AmericaFAV 1

City of BaltimoreFAV 1

Coalition for Smarter GrowthFAV 1

Greater Greater WashingtonFAV 1

Maryland Building Industry AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland REALTORSFAV 1

Maryland State Firefighter's AssociationFAV 1

Maryland State PoliceINFO 1

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFAV 1

People-Oriented PlacesFAV 1

Preservation MarylandFWA 1

The Pew Charitable TrustsINFO 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVJackson, MarcusAssociated Builders and ContractorsRegistered for: Associated Builders & Contractors

FAVKisicki, CarrieCoalition for Smarter GrowthRegistered for: Coalition for Smarter Growth dba Piedmont Environmental Council

FAVReed, DanGreater Greater WashingtonRegistered for: Greater Greater Washington

FAVGraf, LoriMaryland Building Industry AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Building Industry Association

FAVMay, LisaMaryland REALTORSRegistered for: Maryland REALTORS; Maryland Association of Realtors

FWARedding, NicholasPreservation MarylandRegistered for: Preservation Maryland