A bill to establish a “Source of Income” policy statewide, to reduce housing discrimination, has been proposed for consideration this session.

HB 231, the “Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act,” sponsored by Delegate Brooke Lierman with over thirty co-sponsors, has been introduced. The bill would create a statewide policy to ban housing discrimination based on the occupant’s “source of income.” Multiple local governments in Maryland have taken up and enacted local laws to this effect – HB 231 would carry that practice statewide. The legislation, in effect, deals with individuals with governmental housing vouchers, who have historically been denied access to some loving areas on those grounds.

From the bill’s preamble, explaining the case for and context of the bill:

HB 231 has been assigned to the House Committee on Environment and Transportation, and is scheduled to be heard on February 4.

Read the full text of HB 231 on the Maryland General Assembly site.