SB 556

Did not advance

Real Property - Fraudulent Possession and Unauthorized Lease or Listing - Prohibition and Removal

Sponsor: Justin Ready (District 5)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 the knowing and willful presentation of certain false documents in order to possess real property; prohibiting a person from leasing to another real property the person does not own or is not authorized to lease and from listing or advertising for sale real property if the person knows the purported seller is not the owner of the property; 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 6FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 18Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Malone, Susan	Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission, Inc.	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Ashleylobbyist	Harris Jones & Malone, LLC	Oral
FAV	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator Ready, Senator Readylegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Ayalew, Solomon	African Communities Together (ACT)	Written (PDF)
UNF	Moore, Tonaeyalobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Sarro, Lisa	Community Legal Services	Written (PDF)
UNF	Wilpone-Welborn, Kira	Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General	Written (PDF)
UNF	Nnamdi, Nneka	Fight Blight Bmore	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Santoni, Jane	Maryland Association of Justice	Written (PDF)
UNF	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
UNF	Loveless, Joseph	Maryland Legal Aid	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Downs, Kirsten	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Written (PDF)
UNF	Hilliard, Elizabeth	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral
UNF	Towey, Emilee	Montgomery County Renters Alliance	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Davis, Katherine	Pro Bono Resource Center	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Rodriguez, Anthony	Shore Legal Access	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Kern, John	The SOS Fund	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Baldacci, Spencer	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Hill, Matt	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Leggette, Jessica	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lent, Michael	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Pipkin, Matthewlobbyist	Maryland Multi-Housing Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Ready, Justin	Maryland State Senate	Written (PDF)
FWA	Slade, Robert	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

African Communities Together (ACT)UNF 1

Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission, Inc.FAV 1

CASH Campaign of MarylandUNF 1

Community Legal ServicesUNF 1

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

Fight Blight BmoreUNF 1

Harris Jones & Malone, LLCFAV 1

Maryland Association of JusticeUNF 1

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyUNF 1

Maryland Legal AidUNF 1

Maryland Multi-Housing AssociationFWA 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderUNF 2

Maryland State SenateFWA 1

Montgomery County Renters AllianceUNF 1

Pro Bono Resource CenterUNF 1

Shore Legal AccessUNF 1

The SOS FundUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVClark, 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…

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

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

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