2026 Legislative Session

Maryland's 2026 Legislative Session is here

informed by our mission and core values.
amplified in partnership with like-minded coalitions including Renters United Maryland, CASA, the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition and Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition.
driven by client experience and on-the-ground staff perspective.
able to move when we have leaders in the legislature who are driven to act.
influenced by the issues that gain momentum as the session progresses.

This bill is back from last year and prevents law enforcement from arresting and ticketing people experiencing homelessness without first offering shelter. This is in direct response to the Grants Pass decision, which allows local jurisdictions to arrest or punish people for experiencing homelessness. Relying on jails and fines will never solve the homelessness crisis. The real solution is providing access to housing we can all afford and the support services we all need to become stable. See our testimony below.
- Watch: President & CEO Kevin Lindamood testify in support at 1:07:12 (and back up to 59:29 to hear bill sponsor Senator Anthony Muse followed by Eric Tars of the National Homelessness Law Center). "The forced closure of encampments and issuing of citations is cruel, costly and, frankly, utterly counterproductive."
- Watch: Director of Community Relations and Engagement Malcolm Williams and Board Member and client Mark Council testify in support at 4:06:01. "As a health care worker and organization, we want policies that allow people to focus on healing — not on avoiding arrest while fighting for housing."

This bill requires the Secretary of Health to issue recommendations for certain immunizations, screenings, and preventive services that follow the generally accepted consensus within the scientific community and sound clinical guidance.
- Coming up
  - Senate hearing - 2/10
  - House hearing - 2/26

This bill removes penalties for paraphernalia in Maryland—and continues momentum of treating addiction and substance use disorder as a public health issue, not a criminal one.
- Watch: Medical Director of Primary Care Max Romano, MD testify in support of SB327 at 2:57:23. "When drug paraphernalia is criminalized, it doesn't stop people from using drugs. Rather, it makes their use more dangerous as they resort to reuse, share and utilize substandard paraphernalia." Fast-forward to 3:16:12 to hear Behavioral Health Therapist red nesbitt share why this bill offers needed clarity.
- Coming up
  - House hearing - 2/10

Prohibits landlords from using credit checks to screen applicants with income-based housing subsidies. For families who rely on housing assistance, including Housing Choice Vouchers and other income-based subsidies, credit and income-based screening often create a persistent barrier that undermines both the purpose of housing assistance programs and the intent of Maryland’s HOME Act. Ensure that Maryland families using income-based housing subsidies are not unfairly denied the opportunity to secure safe and stable housing.
- Coming up
  - Senate hearing - 2/10

Helps provide renters with the protections they need from unjust, discriminatory, and arbitrary eviction. In 2024, the bill passed the House but did not pass the Senate. In 2025, the bill did not move.
- Coming up
  - Senate hearing - 2/12

Share your experience with Director of Public Policy Joanna Diamond at advocacy@hchmd.org. Stories can be in the form of an email, a phone call that's transcribed, a pre-recorded video or a recorded Teams meeting.
Learn how to find your legislator, search for a bill, and generally engage during the Maryland General Assembly session.

We can include them in written testimony that will influence the hearings.
You might have an opportunity to share your story directly with legislators as part of hearings.
We can compile written and recorded stories and share with legislators after the hearings to advocate for their votes in favor of the bill.