HB 153

Residential Rental Apartments - Air-Conditioning Requirement

Sponsor: Mary A. Lehman (District 21)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Housing and Community DevelopmentStatus: Third Reading Passed (90-30) (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring a landlord to provide air-conditioning to residential rental units in apartment buildings with four or more individual dwelling units in a certain manner beginning June 1, 2026, for newly constructed residential rental units and beginning October 1, 2026, for residential rental units that undergo renovation that includes the replacement or substantial upgrade of electrical systems or heating systems; and applying the Act prospectively.

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Testimony (21)

MGA witness list

FAV 10FavorableFWA 5Favorable with amendmentsUNF 3UnfavorableINFO 3Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Faulkner, Jaclyn	AIA Maryland, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sarro, Lisa	Community Legal Services	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilpone-Welborn, Kira	Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General	Written (PDF)
FAV	Shewbridge, Rylielobbyist	Fello	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ball, Calvin	Howard County Exec	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lehman, Mary	MGA	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneider, Glennlobbyist	The Horizon Foundation	Position only
FAV	Delegate Lehman, Delegate Lehmanlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Lent, Michael	Individual	Position only
UNF	Castelli, Williamlobbyist	Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
FWA	Shah, Zafar	Maryland Legal Aid	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FWA	Othman, Ronza	National Federation of the Blind	Written (PDF)
FWA	Turner, Albert	Renters United Maryland	Oral
FWA	Hill, Matt	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Cantu, Hugolobbyist	Apartments and Office Building Association	Written (PDF)
INFO	ANDERSON, ARLISA	Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC)	Written (PDF)
INFO	Pipkin, Matthewlobbyist	Maryland Multi-Housing Association	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AIA Maryland, Inc.FAV 1

Apartments and Office Building AssociationINFO 1

Community Legal ServicesFAV 1

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

FelloFAV 1

Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC)INFO 1

Howard County ExecFAV 1

Maryland Legal AidFWA 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Multi-Housing AssociationINFO 1

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFWA 1

MGAFAV 1

National Federation of the BlindFWA 1

Renters United MarylandFWA 1

Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston LLCUNF 1

The Horizon FoundationFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVShewbridge, RylieFelloRegistered for: Fello; City of Frederick; City of Westminster; Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund; League of Life & Health Insurers of Maryland, Inc.; Maryland Children's Alliance, Inc.…

FAVSchneider, GlennThe Horizon FoundationRegistered for: Horizon Foundation of Howard County, Inc., The

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…

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

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