MACo advocates for process improvements and innovative tools to help counties support community development throughout Maryland.
The segments below provide a brief overview of MACo’s advocacy in the area of housing and community development in the 2017 General Assembly.
Follow links for more coverage on Conduit Street and MACo’s Legislative Database.
Foreclosures
Over the interim MACo participated in the workgroup that studied foreclosures as well as vacant and blighted properties with the goal of providing local governments additional tools for addressing problem properties. The following package of bills was a result of the workgroup’s efforts.
MACo successfully supported a bill to enable the state and local governments to receive notification about properties entering the foreclosure process. The General Assembly passed Senate Bill 875/House Bill 1048, and it is awaiting the Governor’s signature. Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo successfully supported SB 957/HB 1168, a bill that would provide counties with the ability to establish land banks — a tool to help revitalize problem properties and stabilize neighborhoods. The General Assembly passed the legislation and it is awaiting the Governor’s signature. Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo successfully amended legislation intended to expedite the foreclosure process to meet county concerns. Senate Bill 1022/House Bill 607 and Senate Bill 1033/House Bill 702 were a pair of bills intended to establish an expedited foreclosure process for homes that are vacant and abandoned. While MACo supported the shared goal of an efficient and effective process to expedite the foreclosure of vacant and abandoned properties, the bills as drafted raised liability and resource concerns. Ultimately, the General Assembly passed an amended version of SB 1033/HB 702. SB 1022/HB 607 did not advance.
- SB 1022/HB 607 Bill Information | MACo Coverage
- SB 1033/HB 702 Bill Information | MACo Coverage
MACo supported a bill that would require a foreclosure purchaser to update as necessary any information submitted when initially registering the property on the foreclosed property registry. House Bill 954 passed the House of Delegates and made it to Third Reader in the Senate, but unfortunately did not pass before the end of the legislative session. Bill Information | MACo Coverage
Homebuyer Education
MACo amended a homebuyer education bill to prevent unintended negative consequences for local programs. House Bill 106 passed the House of Delegates with amendments but did not proceed through the Senate before the end of the legislative session. Bill Information | MACo Coverage
Abandoned Cemeteries
MACo supported a bill that would have authorized local governments to enact a local law allowing a lien to be set on abandoned private cemeteries for unpaid maintenance, repair, or preservation work performed by the government on the property. Unfortunately, House Bill 235 bill did not advance out of committee this year. Bill Information | MACo Coverage
