Bill > HB573

This bill aims to strengthen fair housing protections by allowing the Department of Housing and Community Development to create regulations for affirmatively furthering fair housing, which means actively working to prevent housing discrimination and promote inclusive communities. It clarifies that certain discriminatory housing practices can be illegal even if there was no intent to discriminate, and it prohibits actions that have a discriminatory effect, meaning they disproportionately harm or disadvantage a group of people based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or familial status, or create or worsen segregated housing patterns. However, the bill also provides an exception, stating that actions taken without discriminatory intent that are necessary to achieve substantial, legitimate, and non-discriminatory interests, and cannot be achieved through less discriminatory means, will not be considered a violation.

Business and Industry

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0573?ys=2026RS