Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB937: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)
Status: Signed into law, May 26, 2026
Prohibiting a landlord from requiring or requesting from a prospective tenant certain information relating to criminal history and prohibiting a landlord from considering certain information when evaluating the prospective tenant; permitting a landlord to consider certain criminal history information prior to extending a conditional offer to a prospective tenant; and requiring the landlord to consider certain information provided by a prospective tenant relating to a criminal history records check; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act) FOR the purpose of prohibiting a landlord from requiring or requesting from a prospective tenant certain information relating to criminal history and prohibiting a landlord from considering certain information when evaluating the prospective tenant…
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act) FOR the purpose of prohibiting a landlord from requiring or requesting from a prospective tenant certain information relating to criminal history and prohibiting a landlord from considering certain information when evaluating the prospective tenant; permitting a landlord to consider certain criminal history information prior to extending a conditional offer to a prospective tenant and requiring the landlord to consider certain information provided by a prospective tenant relating to a criminal history records check; authorizing a landlord to consider certain criminal convictions only after extending a conditional offer to a prospective tenant and authorizing a landlord to withdraw a conditional offer under certain circumstances; prohibiting a landlord from publishing certain housing advertisements; establishing that the lease of residential property to an individual with a criminal record or the decision of a landlord not to conduct a criminal history records check is not the basis of a claim against a landlord; requiring the Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs in the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop and publish a certain model document; requiring the Attorney General Office of Tenant and Landlord Affairs to collect and maintain certain data and publish certain information relating to collected data annually on …
Sponsors
- Shaneka Henson (D, 30) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Approved by the Governor - Chapter 752
- : Passed Enrolled
- : Third Reading Passed (31-13)
- : Senate Concurs House Amendments
- : Third Reading Passed with Amendments (97-36)
- : Floor Amendment {223521/1 (Delegate Schmidt) Rejected (34-101)
- : Floor Amendment {963321/1 (Delegate Charkoudian) Adopted
- : Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- : Favorable with Amendments {743728/1 Adopted
- : Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters
Votes
- Third Reading Passed with Amendments (97-36) (April 13, 2026): 97 yea, 36 nay, passed
- Third Reading Passed (31-13) (April 13, 2026): 31 yea, 13 nay, passed
- Floor Amendment { 223521/1 (Delegate Schmidt) Rejected (34-101) (April 13, 2026): 34 yea, 101 nay, failed
- Third Reading Passed (32-10) (March 23, 2026): 32 yea, 10 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB937?
- SB937 is a bill in the Maryland Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act).
- What does SB937 do?
- In its own words: An act concerning Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act) FOR the purpose of prohibiting a landlord from requiring or requesting from a prospective tenant certain information relating to criminal history and prohibiting a landlord from considering certain information when evaluating the prospective tenant…
- What is the status of SB937?
- Signed into law as of May 26, 2026. Latest action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 752 (May 26, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB937?
- Shaneka Henson (D, 30).
- Where is the official record for SB937?
- On the Maryland Legislature website: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0937?ys=2026RS
Source: official Maryland record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.