Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB573: Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination - Regulations, Intent, and Discriminatory Effect
Status: Signed into law, May 26, 2026
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.
What the bill says
An act concerning Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination - Regulations, Intent, and Discriminatory Effect FOR the purpose of 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; providing that certain conduct does not constitute a certain violation; and generally relating to fair housing and discriminatory housing practices…
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination - Regulations, Intent, and Discriminatory Effect FOR the purpose of 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; providing that certain conduct does not constitute a certain violation; and generally relating to fair housing and discriminatory housing practices. BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Housing and Community Development Section 2-402 Annotated Code of Maryland (2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - State Government Section 20-101(a), (b), and (d), 20-701(a), 20-1020, 20-1035, 20-1040, and 20-1041 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY adding to Article - State Government Section 20-701(b-1) Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - State Government Section 20-702 and 20-705 Annotated Code of Maryland (2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Housing and Community Development 2-402. Ch. 778 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND (a) The Department: (1) shall administer its programs and …