Bill > SB730

This bill modifies the process by which counties and municipal corporations can initiate a judicial in rem foreclosure action, which is a legal proceeding to take ownership of property due to unpaid taxes. Specifically, it changes how notice is provided to "interested parties" – individuals or entities with a legal stake in the property. Instead of requiring notice to be sent by both first-class and certified mail within five days of filing a complaint, the bill now mandates that the complaint be served on each interested party according to the Maryland Rules, which outlines the official procedures for legal service. This change applies to foreclosures on certain vacant and abandoned properties where taxes have been delinquent for at least six months, and the right to appeal a vacant and unsafe citation has expired. The bill also specifies that the foreclosure complaint must include details about the property, the delinquent taxes, the parties involved, and a request for the court to transfer ownership to the county or municipality after a 30-day waiting period, during which interested parties can still pay the overdue amounts to prevent foreclosure.