Bill > SB514

This bill introduces the Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act, which establishes new regulations for how landlords can use criminal history information when screening prospective tenants. Under the new law, landlords are prohibited from asking about criminal history on initial housing applications and cannot reject tenants based on arrests, expunged convictions, pardoned convictions, or juvenile records. Landlords may only conduct a criminal history check after extending a conditional offer of housing, and even then, they can only consider a limited set of serious convictions, such as first-degree murder, human trafficking, and certain sexual offenses. If a landlord decides to withdraw a conditional offer based on criminal history, they must provide a specific written explanation and allow the prospective tenant to appeal by providing evidence of rehabilitation or mitigating circumstances. The bill requires landlords to conduct criminal history checks uniformly for all applicants and mandates an individualized assessment that considers factors like the nature of the offense, time elapsed, and potential impact on other tenants. The Attorney General will develop model notices, collect data on complaints, and can impose civil penalties up to $1,000 for violations. The law is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, with the goal of reducing housing discrimination based on criminal records.

Justice

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0514?ys=2025RS