HB 226

Department of Disabilities - Housing Programs and Affiliated Foundations - Establishment

Sponsor: Chair, Appropriations CommitteeCommittee: AppropriationsSubject: DisabledStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 89 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Department of Disabilities to establish affordable and accessible housing programs; authorizing the Department to establish one or more affiliated foundations to work with certain programs and units of the Department to solicit and accept funds, partner with individuals and entities, and promote certain activities that support certain projects; prohibiting an affiliated foundation from influencing determinations regarding eligibility for any program, benefit, or services administered by the Department; etc.

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Testimony (20)

MGA witness list

FAV 13FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendmentsINFO 3Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Cook, Chuck	Department of Housing and Community Development	Written (PDF)
FAV	Manzoni, Mary	MD Works	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	London, Rachel	Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Cratsley, Laurel	Maryland State Department of Education	Written (PDF)
FAV	Othman, Ronza	National Federation of the Blind of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kugel, Katrinalobbyist	SEEC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Silcott, Lorna-Mae	The Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Chair, Appropriations Committee, Chair, Appropriations Committee	Individual	Oral
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Holcomb, Karen	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rice, Mat	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Roques, Carmel	Maryland Department of Aging	Written (PDF)
FWA	Beatty, Carol	Maryland Department of Disabilities	Oral
FWA	Blackfield, Anne	Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
INFO	Allgair, Jennifer	State Ethics Commission	Written (PDF)
INFO	Disabilities, Department of	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only

Organizations on record

Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentFAV 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 1

Maryland Department of AgingFWA 1

Maryland Department of DisabilitiesFWA 1

Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)FWA 1

Maryland Department of HealthFWA 1

Maryland Developmental Disabilities CouncilFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland State Department of EducationFAV 1

MD WorksFAV 1

National Federation of the Blind of MarylandFAV 1

SEECFAV 1

State Ethics CommissionINFO 1

The Maryland Statewide Independent Living CouncilFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVArias, DianeMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

FAVKugel, KatrinaSEECRegistered for: SEEC

FAVElliott, RobynRegistered for: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists; Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; CareForth; Chase Brexton Health System; Coordinating Center, The; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition…