HB 239

Land Use - Zoning - Limitations (Starter and Silver Homes Act of 2026)

Sponsor: Chair, Economic Matters CommitteeCommittee: Economic MattersSubject: Housing and Community DevelopmentStatus: Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Prohibiting local jurisdictions from adopting or enforcing certain zoning provisions relating to lot size, dimensions, setback requirements, lot coverage, and design or architectural elements for certain single-family homes; prohibiting local jurisdictions from prohibiting certain housing types in certain zones; and prohibiting local jurisdictions from prohibiting certain subdivisions of certain lot types.

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Testimony (135)

MGA witness list

FAV 47FavorableFWA 33Favorable with amendmentsUNF 53UnfavorableINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Campbell, James	AARP	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Scepaniak, Michael	BaltPOP - Baltimoreans for People-Oriented Places	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hovermale, Emilylobbyist	Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership	Written (PDF)
FAV	January, Briannalobbyist	Chamber of Progress	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Cort, Cheryllobbyist	Coalition for Smarter Growth	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Duvall, Jessamine	Columbia Housing Center, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilson Randall, Claudia	Community Development Network of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Sarro, Lisa	Community Legal Services	Position only
FAV	Matthews Brown, Rianna	Comptroller	Written (PDF)
FAV	Shewbridge, Rylielobbyist	Fello	Written (PDF)
FAV	Reed, Danlobbyist	Greater Greater Washington	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Spoor, Ronald	Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, Inc.	Oral
FAV	Posko, Mike	Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake	Written (PDF)
FAV	Diamond, Joanna	Health Care for the Homeless	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ball, Calvin	Howard Co. Exec Office	Written (PDF)
FAV	Eng, Jackie	Howard County Housing Affordability Coalition	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Rives, Kelli	Jewish Community Relations Council of Howard County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Yotter, Sara	Joy Reigns Lutheran Church	Oral
FAV	Berland, Alexander	MJPA/AIM	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Graf, Lorilobbyist	Maryland Building Industry Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Schumitz, Kalilobbyist	Maryland Center on Economic Policy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wiggins, Grasonlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
FAV	Roques, Carmel	Maryland Department of Aging	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Blackfield, Anne	Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Westervelt, Patricia	Maryland Department of Transportation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baker, Jeremy D	Maryland Department of the Environment	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schmidt, Kristin	Maryland Just Power Alliance	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Shah, Zafar	Maryland Legal Aid	Written (PDF)
FAV	May, Lisalobbyist	Maryland REALTORS	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Stein, Kate	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club (WDC)	Position only
FAV	Ellis, Dan	Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Coale, Tomlobbyist	PWRJ	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Carter, Alita-Geri	Qualequity Access	Position only
FAV	Schneider, Glennlobbyist	The Horizon Foundation	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	RASMUSSEN, DENNISlobbyist	The Rasmussen Group LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Richardson, Cristi	Wicomico Public Library	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Balakirsky, Michael	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Budlow, Lisa	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Chair, Economic Matters Committee, Chair, Economic Matters Committee	Individual	Oral
FAV	DeMattia, Andre	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Greenfield, Aaronlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Huntley, Harry	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kopiy, Iryna	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	McEvoy, Owenlobbyist	Individual	Oral
FAV	Schandelmeier, Brooks	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Simon, Stuart	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Rybczynski, Adam	City of Havre de Grace	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Benitez, Mayor Celina	City of Mount Rainier	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Voitiuc, Nicholas	City of Salisbury	Written (PDF)
UNF	Miller, Christopher	City of Taneytown	Written (PDF)
UNF	Barnes, David	Edgemoor Citizens Association	Written (PDF)
UNF	Cassilly, Robert	Harford County Government	Written (PDF)
UNF	Throop, Ellen	MD-LAC Community Associations Institute	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Etting, Paula	Mayor, Town of Bel Air	Oral
UNF	Davis, Alan	MoCo Neighborhood Preservation Alliance	Written (PDF)
UNF	Powers, Ryan	None	Written (PDF)
UNF	Meister, Pam	Office of County Commissioners, Carroll County	Written (PDF)
UNF	Reinhardt, Richardlobbyist	Percy Public Affairs, LLC	Written (PDF)
UNF	MULLICAN, Brigitta	Private	Written (PDF)

Showing 60 of 135

Organizations on record

AARPFAV 1

Advocates for Herring BayFWA 1

Arundel Rivers FederationFWA 1

Baltimore Regional Housing PartnershipFAV 1

BaltPOP - Baltimoreans for People-Oriented PlacesFAV 1

Chamber of ProgressFAV 1

Charles County GovernmentINFO 2

Chesapeake Bay FoundationFWA 1

City of Havre de GraceUNF 1

City of Mount RainierUNF 1

City of SalisburyUNF 1

City of TaneytownUNF 1

City of WestminsterFWA 1

Coalition for Smarter GrowthFAV 1

Columbia Housing Center, Inc.FAV 1

Community Development Network of MarylandFAV 1

Community Legal ServicesFAV 1

ComptrollerFAV 1

Councilwoman At-Large, GlenardenFWA 1

Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentFWA 1

Edgemoor Citizens AssociationUNF 1

FelloFAV 1

Greater Greater WashingtonFAV 1

Growth Action Network of Anne Arundel CountyFWA 1

Habitat for Humanity Metro Maryland, Inc.FAV 1

Habitat for Humanity of the ChesapeakeFAV 1

Harford County GovernmentUNF 1

Health Care for the HomelessFAV 1

Howard Co. Exec OfficeFAV 1

Howard County CouncilFWA 1

Howard County Housing Affordability CoalitionFAV 1

Jewish Community Relations Council of Howard CountyFAV 1

Joy Reigns Lutheran ChurchFAV 1

M-NCPPC - Senior Government AnalystFWA 1

M-NCPPC, Prince George's Planning DepartmentFWA 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FWA 1

Maryland Building Industry AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Center on Economic PolicyFAV 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceFAV 1

Maryland Department of AgingFAV 1

Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)FAV 1

Maryland Department of LaborFWA 1

Maryland Department of the EnvironmentFAV 1

Maryland Department of TransportationFAV 1

Maryland Just Power AllianceFAV 1

Maryland League of Conservation VotersFWA 1

Maryland Legal AidFAV 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueFWA 1

Maryland REALTORSFAV 1

Mayor, Town of Bel AirUNF 1

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFWA 1

MD-LAC Community Associations InstituteUNF 1

MJPA/AIMFAV 1

MoCo Neighborhood Preservation AllianceUNF 1

Montgomery County Exec.FWA 1

Montgomery County GovernmentFWA 1

Montgomery County Planning DepartmentFWA 1

Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club (WDC)FAV 1

Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore, Inc.FAV 1

NoneUNF 1

Office of County Commissioners, Carroll CountyUNF 1

Percy Public Affairs, LLCUNF 1

personal, or Trail Riders of Today or West Laurel Civic AssnUNF 1

Prince George's County CouncilFWA 1

Prince George's County GovernmentFWA 1

PrivateUNF 1

PWRJFAV 1

Qualequity AccessFAV 1

R&R SolutionsUNF 1

Seat PleasantUNF 1

Seven Locks Civic Association, Inc.UNF 1

Severn River AssociationUNF 1

ShoreRiversFWA 1

Tabuteau, LLCFWA 1

The Horizon FoundationFAV 1

The Nature ConservancyFWA 1

The Rasmussen Group LLCFAV 1

The Town of Berwyn HeightsUNF 1

Town of BladensburgUNF 1

Town of Chesapeake BeachUNF 1

Town of Chevy Chase, MarylandUNF 1

Town of Colmar ManorFWA 1

Town of Glen EchoFWA 1

Town of LaytonsvilleUNF 1

Town of Ocean CityUNF 1

Town of Somerset CouncilFWA 1

Town of SykesvilleUNF 1

Town of Washington GroveUNF 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryUNF 1

Upper Marlboro Board of CommissionersUNF 1

Valleys Planning CouncilUNF 1

Wicomico Public LibraryFAV 1

Wildwood Manor Citizens Association, Inc.UNF 1

YearFAV 1

Zektick + CompanyUNF 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

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

FAVJanuary, BriannaChamber of ProgressRegistered for: Chamber of Progress

FAVCort, CherylCoalition for Smarter GrowthRegistered for: Coalition for Smarter Growth dba Piedmont Environmental Council

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.…

FAVReed, DanGreater Greater WashingtonRegistered for: Greater Greater Washington

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

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

FAVWiggins, GrasonMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce; United Way of Central Maryland, Inc.; Madison Marquette Property Investments LLC; Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund; Family Tree, The; OVG Facilities…

FAVMay, LisaMaryland REALTORSRegistered for: Maryland REALTORS; Maryland Association of Realtors

FAVCoale, TomPWRJRegistered for: Advantage Capital; Authorium; Baltimore Orioles; CI Renewables; City of Annapolis; Ecphora Capital…

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

FAVRASMUSSEN, DENNISThe Rasmussen Group LLCRegistered for: Baltimore Children's Museum, Inc. dba Port Discovery Children's Museum; Chesapeake Renewable Energy, LLC; Chesapeake Ventures Development, LLC; Greater Ocean City Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Inc.; HarborRock Holdings, LLC; Maryland Mortgage Bankers & Brokers Association (MMBBA)…

FAVGreenfield, AaronRegistered for: BTS Bioenergy; Baltimore Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Inc.; Embassy of Japan; Ernst & Young, LLP; FEi Systems; Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake…

FAVMcEvoy, OwenRegistered for: Arctaris Impact Investors; Couloir Ventures, Inc.; Dahong Shuxing, LLC; David Strategic Development; Fairfield Marley Station LP; Ihsan Farms…

UNFReinhardt, RichardPercy Public Affairs, LLCRegistered for: Allegany County Historical Society; Allegany Museum, Inc.; City of Cumberland; City of Frostburg; Diamond Game; Inncuvate Community Development Partners, Inc.…

UNFSnow, RyanR&R SolutionsRegistered for: Araminta USA; Dorchester County, Maryland; For All Seasons; Maryland Farm Bureau; Talbot Watermen's Association; Tetrus Corp.…

UNFZektick, BarbaraZektick + CompanyRegistered for: Citizens Coordinating Committee on Friendship Heights; Covista; Maryland Coalition of Families; Soteria LLC; Oracle America, Inc.; Maryland State Bar Association, Inc.…

FWATabuteau, RichardTabuteau, LLCRegistered for: Bolt Technology OÜ dba Hopp; Boyd Gaming Corporation; ChargePoint; Chevy Chase Village; Elev8 Baltimore, Inc.; Fortinet…

FWASharif, HumnaThe Nature ConservancyRegistered for: Nature Conservancy, The

FWAHessler, ThereseRegistered for: City of Gaithersburg; Elevate Recovery Centers; Evolve Kids Care; Evolve Life Centers; High Roller Technologies; Laila's Gift…