SB 514

Did not advance

Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)

Sponsor: Shaneka Henson (District 30)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Real PropertyStatus: Hearing 2/06 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting a landlord from requiring or requesting from a prospective tenant certain information relating to criminal history and prohibiting a landlord from considering certain information when evaluating the prospective tenant; permitting a landlord to consider certain criminal history information prior to extending a conditional offer to a prospective tenant and requiring the landlord to consider certain information provided by a prospective tenant relating to a criminal history records check; etc.

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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 37FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendmentsUNF 5UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Arikat, Loraine	1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East	Written (PDF)
FAV	Anderson, Minister Thomas	BUILD (Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hovermale, Emilylobbyist	Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership	Written (PDF)
FAV	Moore, Tonaeyalobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sarro, Lisa	Community Legal Services	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hudson, Lee	Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCA	Position only
FAV	Gallagher, Zoelobbyist	Economic Action Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Diamond, Joanna	Health Care for the Homeless	Written (PDF)
FAV	Quarles, Antoin	Helping Oppressed People Excel (H.O.P.E.)	Position only
FAV	Agarin, Ufuoma	Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Shah, Zafar	Maryland Legal Aid	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bogdan, Henrylobbyist	Maryland Nonprofits	Position only
FAV	Hilliard, Elizabeth	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral
FAV	Kemerer, Hannibal	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Wheaton, David	NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	anderson, shannice	Office of The Public Defender	Oral
FAV	Selden, Trina	Out for Justice	Position only
FAV	Speaks, Terry	Out for Justice	Position only
FAV	Cyrus III, Ralph	Progressive Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Turner, Albert	Renters United Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Brown, Aje	Self	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Rodriguez, Anthony	Shore Legal Access	Written (PDF)
FAV	Davis, Durrel	The Fair Chance Coalition	Oral
FAV	Washington, Shyheim	Turnaround Tuesday	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Karen	UULM-MD	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bae, Johnlobbyist	Vera Institute of Justice	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baldacci, Spencer	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Desta El, Tewodros	Individual	Position only
FAV	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only
FAV	Lent, Michael	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mitchell, Martin	Individual	Oral
FAV	Russell, Jamar	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Henson, Senator Hensonlegislator	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Witcher, Al-Tariq	Individual	Oral
FAV	Yost, E.V.	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Taylor, Zachary	CDIA	Written (PDF)
UNF	Graf, Lorilobbyist	Maryland Building Industry Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Castelli, Williamlobbyist	Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
FWA	Jones, Brenda	Families Advocating Intelligent Registries (FAIR)	Written (PDF)
FWA	Clark, Ashleylobbyist	Harris Jones & Malone, LLC	Oral
FWA	Hypolite, Crystal	Housing Authority of Baltimore City	Written (PDF)
FWA	Anleu, Brianlobbyist	Individual	Oral
INFO	Wilpone-Welborn, Kira	Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers EastFAV 1

Baltimore Regional Housing PartnershipFAV 1

BUILD (Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development)FAV 1

CASH Campaign of MarylandFAV 1

CDIAUNF 1

Community Legal ServicesFAV 1

Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney GeneralINFO 1

Delaware-Maryland Synod, ELCAFAV 1

Economic Action MarylandFAV 1

Families Advocating Intelligent Registries (FAIR)FWA 1

Harris Jones & Malone, LLCFWA 1

Health Care for the HomelessFAV 1

Helping Oppressed People Excel (H.O.P.E.)FAV 1

Housing Authority of Baltimore CityFWA 1

Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc.FAV 1

Maryland Building Industry AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Legal AidFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland NonprofitsFAV 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderFAV 2

NAACP Legal Defense & Educational FundFAV 1

Office of The Public DefenderFAV 1

Out for JusticeFAV 2

Progressive MarylandFAV 1

Renters United MarylandFAV 1

Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCUNF 1

SelfFAV 1

Shore Legal AccessFAV 1

The Fair Chance CoalitionFAV 1

Turnaround TuesdayFAV 1

UULM-MDFAV 1

Vera Institute of JusticeFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

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

FAVMoore, TonaeyaCASH Campaign of MarylandRegistered for: CASH Campaign of Maryland

FAVGallagher, ZoeEconomic Action MarylandRegistered for: Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition DBA Economic Action Maryland

FAVBogdan, HenryMaryland NonprofitsRegistered for: Maryland Nonprofits

FAVBae, JohnVera Institute of JusticeRegistered for: Vera Institute of Justice

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

UNFCastelli, 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…

FWAClark, AshleyHarris Jones & Malone, LLCRegistered for: Beltway Fine Wine; Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Company; Community Associations Institute/Maryland Legislative Action Committee; Employ Prince George's, Inc.; Frederick Community College; Greater Baltimore Committee…

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