SB 484

Unhoused Individuals - Rights, Civil Action, and Affirmative Defense

Sponsor: C. Anthony Muse (District 26)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Civil Actions and ProceduresStatus: Hearing 2/06 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Providing that all unhoused individuals have certain rights; authorizing the Attorney General or an individual harmed by a violation of the Act to bring a certain civil action against a political subdivision, a unit of State or local government, or a government official; establishing an affirmative defense of necessity to certain criminal charges relating to trespass or disturbing the peace; and repealing the authority of a municipality to prohibit vagrancy.

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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 21FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 9UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Sarro, Lisa	Community Legal Services	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Position only
FAV	McAndrew, Andaiye	Disability Rights Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Council, Mark	Health Care for the Homeless	Oral
FAV	Diamond, Joanna	Health Care for the Homeless	Written (PDF)
FAV	Reynolds-Dominguez, Camilalobbyist	LGBTQ+ Caucus	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Shah, Zafar	Maryland Legal Aid	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ruth, Laure	Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hilliard, Elizabeth	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Rabinowitz, Jesse	National Homelessness Law Center	Oral
FAV	Muse, C. Anthony	Senator Muse	Written (PDF)
FAV	SWASC, UM	Social Work Advocates for Social Change	Written (PDF)
FAV	Phelps Jr, Ken	The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland	Position only
FAV	OMalley, Catherine	Women's Law Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delaney Baggett, Jamie	Individual	Oral
FAV	Hill, Matt	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Lent, Michael	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator Muse, Senator Muselegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Breeding, Travis	Caroline County Commissioners Office	Written (PDF)
UNF	Jackson, Samiralobbyist	Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors of Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Sample, Sarah	Maryland Association of Counties	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Vormelker, Will	Maryland Judiciary	Written (PDF)
UNF	Bailey Thupari, Angelica	Maryland Municipal League	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Anleu, Brianlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Bertino, Chip	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
FWA	Pipkin, Matthewlobbyist	Maryland Multi-Housing Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Prater, David	Office of Attorney General	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only

Organizations on record

Caroline County Commissioners OfficeUNF 1

Community Legal ServicesFAV 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

Disability Rights MarylandFAV 1

Health Care for the HomelessFAV 2

LGBTQ+ CaucusFAV 1

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors of MarylandUNF 1

Maryland Association of CountiesUNF 1

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyFAV 1

Maryland JudiciaryUNF 1

Maryland Legal AidFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Multi-Housing AssociationFWA 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueUNF 1

Maryland Network Against Domestic ViolenceFAV 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderFAV 1

National Homelessness Law CenterFAV 1

Office of Attorney GeneralFWA 1

Senator MuseFAV 1

Social Work Advocates for Social ChangeFAV 1

The Episcopal Diocese of MarylandFAV 1

Women's Law CenterFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVReynolds-Dominguez, CamilaLGBTQ+ CaucusRegistered for: FreeState Justice

FAVSchumitz, KaliMaryland Center on Economic PolicyRegistered for: Maryland Center on Economic Policy

UNFJackson, SamiraLicensed Clinical Professional Counselors of MarylandRegistered for: Critical Response Group; Dell Technologies Inc.; Empower; Forward Financing; HDR Engineering, Inc.; Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs…

UNFAnleu, BrianRegistered for: AOBA; Apartment & Office Building Association; National Apartment Association

FWAPipkin, MatthewMaryland Multi-Housing AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Multi-Housing Association