SB 829

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

Sponsor: Jeff Waldstreicher (District 18)Committee: Education, Energy, and the EnvironmentSubject: Local Government - GenerallyStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 725 (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 jurisdictions to allow certain residential or mixed-use developments as permitted use on certain parcels or lots zoned for commercial use; and requiring the Department to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and 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 (27)

MGA witness list

FAV 17FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 7UnfavorableINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Duvall, Jessamine	Columbia Housing Center, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wilson Randall, Claudia	Community Development Network of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cross, Dr Cashenna A	Councilwoman At-Large, Glenarden	Oral
FAV	Day, Jake	Department of Housing and Community Development	Written (PDF)
FAV	Reed, Danlobbyist	Greater Greater Washington	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Rives, Kelli	Jewish Community Relations Council of Howard County	Written (PDF)
FAV	Graf, Lorilobbyist	Maryland Building Industry Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Schmidt, Kristin	Maryland Just Power Alliance	Oral
FAV	Wenger, Katie	Maryland Just Power Alliance	Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Position only
FAV	Pipkin, Matthewlobbyist	Maryland Multi-Housing Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	May, Lisalobbyist	Maryland REALTORS	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Deborah	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club	Oral
FAV	Stein, Kate	Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club (WDC)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kansal, Tusharlobbyist	Pew Charitable Trusts	Oral
FAV	Guinnup, Chris	Individual	Position only
FAV	Senator Waldstreicher, Senator Waldstreicherlegislator	Individual	Oral
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	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
UNF	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
UNF	Zentz, Kim	Individual	Position only
FWA	Scepaniak, Michael	BaltPOP - Baltimoreans for People-Oriented Places	Written (PDF)
INFO	Crockett, Gary	Chevy Chase Village	Written (PDF)
INFO	Furth, Salim	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)