HB 573

Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination - Regulations, Intent, and Discriminatory Effect

Sponsor: Deni Taveras (District 47B)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Human RelationsStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 778 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt certain regulations related to affirmatively furthering fair housing; providing that certain discriminatory housing practices may be committed without intent; prohibiting a person from acting in a certain manner that has a discriminatory effect; and providing that certain conduct necessary to achieve certain nondiscriminatory interests does not constitute a certain violation.

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Testimony (34)

MGA witness list

FAV 30FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Smith, Jonathan	Attorney General of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hovermale, Emilylobbyist	Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Muckle, Lonialobbyist	CASH Campaign of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilson Randall, Claudia	Community Development Network of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Sarro, Lisa	Community Legal Services	Written (PDF)
FAV	Fontaine, Diana	Congressman Glenn Ivey	Written (PDF)
FAV	Day, Jake	Department of Housing and Community Development	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dixon, Monique	Gibson-Banks Center for Race and the Law, University of Maryland Carey School of Law	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dove, S. Spencer	Maryland Commission on Civil Rights	Written (PDF)
FAV	Browning, Jeremy	Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs	Written (PDF)
FAV	London, Rachel	Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bergan, Courtney	Maryland Legal Aid	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bogdan, Henrylobbyist	Maryland Nonprofits	Position only
FAV	May, Lisalobbyist	Maryland REALTORS	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wheaton, David	NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Othman, Ronza	National Federation of the Blind of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Legagneur, Sasha	Poverty & Race Research Action Council	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Collins, Jocelynlobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Turner, Albert	Renters United Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hoffman, Charlotte	Trans Maryland	Position only
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Allen, Susan	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Taveras, Delegate Taveraslegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Girdner, Linnie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jasen, Debi	Individual	Position only
FAV	Lent, Michael	Individual	Position only
FAV	Littell, Melinda	Individual	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
FWA	Clark, Ashleylobbyist	Harris Jones & Malone, LLC	Written (PDF)
FWA	ANDERSON, ARLISA	Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC)	Written (PDF)
FWA	Rotunno, Ginalobbyist	NAMIC	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Attorney General of MarylandFAV 1

Baltimore Regional Housing PartnershipFAV 1

CASH Campaign of MarylandFAV 1

Community Development Network of MarylandFAV 1

Community Legal ServicesFAV 1

Congressman Glenn IveyFAV 1

Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentFAV 1

Gibson-Banks Center for Race and the Law, University of Maryland Carey School of LawFAV 1

Harris Jones & Malone, LLCFWA 1

Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC)FWA 1

Maryland Commission on Civil RightsFAV 1

Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ AffairsFAV 1

Maryland Developmental Disabilities CouncilFAV 1

Maryland Legal AidFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland NonprofitsFAV 1

Maryland REALTORSFAV 1

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFAV 1

NAACP Legal Defense & Educational FundFAV 1

NAMICFWA 1

National Federation of the Blind of MarylandFAV 1

Poverty & Race Research Action CouncilFAV 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 1

Renters United MarylandFAV 1

Trans MarylandFAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

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

FAVMuckle, LoniaCASH Campaign of MarylandRegistered for: CASH Campaign of Maryland

FAVBogdan, HenryMaryland NonprofitsRegistered for: Maryland Nonprofits

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

FAVCollins, JocelynPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Bard College; Campaign to Protect Patient Health d/b/a Value of Care Coalition; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; HealthCare Access Maryland…

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…

FWARotunno, GinaNAMICRegistered for: National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC)