HB 1257

Did not advance

Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Fee Disclosures

Sponsor: Joe Vogel (District 17)Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: Real PropertyStatus: Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring a landlord to provide certain information to prospective tenants about fees imposed on tenants and prohibiting a landlord from imposing a mandatory fee that was not disclosed; applying the Act to a lease signed or renewed on or after October 1, 2025, and a landlord that offers four or more dwelling units for rent; and authorizing a tenant to file a claim against a landlord for a violation of the Act on or after February 1, 2026, and during the tenancy or up to 2 years after the tenancy expired.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 19FavorableFWA 7Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Garofalo, Pat	American Economic Liberties Project	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	City of Gaithersburg	Written (PDF)
FAV	Van Grack, Adam	City of Rockville	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Van Grack, Adam	City of Rockville	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilpone-Welborn, Kira	Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Position only
FAV	Zelaya, Michellelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Nelson, Ariel	National Consumer Law Center	Oral
FAV	Cano, Christopherlobbyist	SEIU Local 500	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cavanagh, Terrencelobbyist	SEIU Local 500	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Vogel, Delegate Vogellegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Vogel, Delegate Vogellegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Hill, Matt	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Lent, Michael	Individual	Position only
FAV	Lent, Michael	Individual	Position only
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Vogel, Joe	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Graf, Lorilobbyist	Maryland Building Industry Association	Written (PDF)
FWA	Cantu, Hugolobbyist	Apartments and Office Building Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Cook, Chuck	Department of Housing and Community Development	Written (PDF)
FWA	Castelli, Williamlobbyist	Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLC	Oral
FWA	Hernandez, Yamil	Self	Oral
FWA	Greenfield, Aaronlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Greenfield, Aaronlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Vogel, Joe	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Wilpone-Welborn, Kira	Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

American Economic Liberties ProjectFAV 1

Apartments and Office Building AssociationFWA 1

City of GaithersburgFAV 1

City of RockvilleFAV 2

Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney GeneralFAV 1INFO 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentFWA 1

Maryland Building Industry AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 2

National Consumer Law CenterFAV 1

Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCFWA 1

SEIU Local 500FAV 2

SelfFWA 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVHessler, ThereseCity of GaithersburgRegistered for: City of Gaithersburg; Elevate Recovery Centers; Evolve Kids Care; Evolve Life Centers; High Roller Technologies; Laila's Gift…

FAVZelaya, MichelleMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVCano, ChristopherSEIU Local 500Registered for: SEIU Local 500

FAVCavanagh, TerrenceSEIU Local 500Registered for: SEIU Local 500; SEIU Maryland & DC State Council

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

FWACantu, HugoApartments and Office Building AssociationRegistered for: Apartment & Office Building Association

FWACastelli, WilliamRifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCRegistered for: ASC Engineered Solutions; Berkshire Hathaway Energy GT&S, LLC; Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County, MD; Brown Advisory; Cable Telecommunications Association of Maryland, Delaware and D.C., Inc.; Colonial Pipeline Company…

FWAGreenfield, AaronRegistered for: BTS Bioenergy; Baltimore Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Inc.; Embassy of Japan; Ernst & Young, LLP; FEi Systems; Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake…