HB 778

Did not advance

Land Use - Middle Housing Options - Requirements

Sponsor: Nick Allen (District 8)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Local Government - GenerallyStatus: Hearing 2/26 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing that certain local jurisdictions have an affirmative duty to create opportunities for housing by evaluating the suitability of vacant, unused, or underutilized commercial or industrial land for housing use; altering the requirements for the housing element of a certain comprehensive plan; requiring local jurisdictions to establish certain policies and adopt certain local laws to promote and encourage building middle housing units on certain land; etc.

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Testimony (16)

MGA witness list

FAV 8FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 6Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Day, Jake	Department of Housing and Community Development	Written (PDF)
FAV	Reed, Danlobbyist	Greater Greater Washington	Oral
FAV	Ball, Calvin	Howard County Exec	Written (PDF)
FAV	Graf, Lorilobbyist	Maryland Building Industry Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	May, Lisalobbyist	Maryland REALTORS	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Delegate Allen, Delegate Allenlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Russell, Danielle	Calvert County Government	Written (PDF)
UNF	Cassilly, Robert	Harford County Government	Written (PDF)
UNF	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Bailey Thupari, Angelica	Maryland Municipal League	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Snow, Ryanlobbyist	R&R Solutions	Written (PDF)
UNF	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Scepaniak, Michael	BaltPOP - Baltimoreans for People-Oriented Places	Written (PDF)
FWA	Ballentine, Tom	NAIOP Maryland	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

BaltPOP - Baltimoreans for People-Oriented PlacesFWA 1

Calvert County GovernmentUNF 1

Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentFAV 1

Greater Greater WashingtonFAV 1

Harford County GovernmentUNF 1

Howard County ExecFAV 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)UNF 1

Maryland Building Industry AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Municipal LeagueUNF 1

Maryland REALTORSFAV 1

NAIOP MarylandFWA 1

R&R SolutionsUNF 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVReed, DanGreater Greater WashingtonRegistered for: Greater Greater Washington

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

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

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

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