SB 107

Evidence - Interception of Oral Communications - Fair Housing Testing

Sponsor: Charles E. Sydnor, III (District 44)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Courts and Court Personnel - StatewideStatus: First Reading Judiciary (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

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.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

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 17FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 2Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Peterson, Eugene	AACo Human Relations Commission	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hunt, Ethan	Anne Arundel County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Smith, Jonathan	Attorney General of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hovermale, Emilylobbyist	Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sarro, Lisa	Community Legal Services	Written (PDF)
FAV	McClannahan, Susie	Equal Rights Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Agarin, Ufuoma	Legislative Black Caucus of Md., Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kelter, Chris	Maryland Centers for Independent Living	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dove, Spencer	Maryland Commission on Civil Rights	Written (PDF)
FAV	Johnson, James	Maryland Multi-Housing Association	Position only
FAV	May, Lisalobbyist	Maryland REALTORS	Written (PDF)
FAV	Frey, Leslie	Montgomery County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Pratt, Sara	Relman Colfax PLLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Turner, Albert	Renters United Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sydnor III, Charles E.	Senator Charles E. Sydnor III	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Sydnor, Senator Sydnorlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Cantu, Hugolobbyist	Apartments and Office Building Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Greenfield, Aaronlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	White, Marcelinelobbyist	Economic Action Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	Freiberg, Fred	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AACo Human Relations CommissionFAV 1

Anne Arundel CountyFAV 1

Apartments and Office Building AssociationUNF 1

Attorney General of MarylandFAV 1

Baltimore Regional Housing PartnershipFAV 1

Community Legal ServicesFAV 1

Economic Action MarylandFWA 1

Equal Rights CenterFAV 1

Legislative Black Caucus of Md., Inc.FAV 1

Maryland Centers for Independent LivingFAV 1

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)FAV 1

Maryland Commission on Civil RightsFAV 1

Maryland Multi-Housing AssociationFAV 1

Maryland REALTORSFAV 1

Montgomery CountyFAV 1

Relman Colfax PLLCFAV 1

Renters United MarylandFAV 1

Senator Charles E. Sydnor IIIFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVHovermale, EmilyBaltimore Regional Housing PartnershipRegistered for: Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership

FAVJordan, Lisae CMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Registered for: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault

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

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

UNFGreenfield, 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…

FWAWhite, MarcelineEconomic Action MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland; Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition