3-31-25 MFRW Legislative Weekly Update

Attached is the MFRW Weekly Legislative Update for 3-31-2025.  There are still many pending bills including the Budget (HB 350) and the Budget Reconciliation Financing Act (HB 352) which have been amended in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee and will be on the Senate floor tomorrow, March 31. 

Once the Senate votes the bills will go back to the House for their concurrence or rejection of the Senate amendments.  If the House rejects the amendments a conference committee will be appointed to reconcile the differences, followed by a final vote in each chamber.  

A very disturbing bill that is poised to gain final approval in the Senate Monday is HB 1466 Land Use and Real Property - Accessory Dwelling Units - Requirements and Prohibitions.  It requires every county to adopt zoning ordinances to allow accessory dwelling units to be built in any single-family detached home community.  These accessory dwelling units can be attached to the main house or detached and can be up to 75% as large as the main structure.  They can be rental units, and their inclusion cannot be counted as increasing the density of the community.  Local ordinances must also contain a process for obtaining a parking wavier. 

It is unclear how this affects homes in the Critical Area.  It was distressing to learn that the vote in the House was 138 - 1.  Only Delegate Grammer voted against it.

Sincerely,

Ella Ennis

Legislative Chairman

Maryland Federation of Republican Women