HB 1137

Residential-in-Commercial-Zone Laws - Study (Bring Back Main Street Act)

Sponsor: Nick Allen (District 8)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Local Government - GenerallyStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 726 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Department of Housing and Community Development to study and make recommendations regarding laws to require certain local jurisdiction to allow certain residential or mixed-use developments as a permitted use on certain parcels or lots zoned for commercial use; and requiring the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2026.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (29)

MGA witness list

FAV 17FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 7UnfavorableINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Wivell, Brianlobbyist	ATU Local 1300	Written (PDF)
FAV	Duvall, Jessamine	Columbia Housing Center, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilson Randall, Claudia	Community Development Network of Maryland	Position only
FAV	Day, Jake	Department of Housing and Community Development	Written (PDF)
FAV	Reed, Danlobbyist	Greater Greater Washington	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Eng, Jackie	Howard County Housing Affordability Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	McWilliams, Eric	ICSC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Singer, Elizabeth	Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Howard County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Graf, Lorilobbyist	Maryland Building Industry Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Pipkin, Matthewlobbyist	Maryland Multi-Housing Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	May, Lisalobbyist	Maryland REALTORS	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Stein, Kate	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club (WDC)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Allen, Delegate Allenlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Girdner, Linnie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jones, Adam	Individual	Position only
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
UNF	Bassett, Elle	Arundel Rivers Federation	Written (PDF)
UNF	Cassilly, Robert	Harford County Government	Written (PDF)
UNF	Butchko, Dominic	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Hamidi, Renee	Valleys Planning Council	Position only
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
UNF	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
FWA	Scepaniak, Michael	BaltPOP - Baltimoreans for People-Oriented Places	Written (PDF)
FWA	Crockett, Gary	Chevy Chase Village	Written (PDF)
FWA	Tobias, Leanne	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Kansal, Tusharlobbyist	Pew Charitable Trusts	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Furth, Salim	Individual	Written (PDF)

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWivell, BrianATU Local 1300Registered for: Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300

FAVReed, DanGreater Greater WashingtonRegistered for: Greater Greater Washington

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

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

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

INFOKansal, TusharPew Charitable TrustsRegistered for: Pew Charitable Trusts, The

HB 1137

What this bill does

Testimony (29)

Organizations on record

Registered lobbyists who testified