On February 20, 2024, Associate Policy Director Dominic Butchko testified before the House Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 538- Land Use- Affordable Housing- Zoning Density and Permitting (Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024) with amendments. This bill makes several changes to the land use article enabling higher density bonuses under three different scenarios, authorizing the use of manufactured housing, and loosening restrictions related to adequate public facility ordinances.
For the 2024 Maryland General Assembly Session, MACo has made it a priority – one of the Association’s four legislative initiatives – to Advance Comprehensive Housing Solutions. Much like climate change and sea level rise, the challenges surrounding affordable housing are vast and call for a large, multipronged effort. While in other policy areas, it may be easy to deduce a simple cause-andeffect relationship, housing is a complex web of multifaceted factors. Addressing challenges like workforce, financing, interest rates, broad economic trends, supply chain, and large out-of-state corporate interests – among many other obstacles – requires an all-hands-on-deck effort from policy makers at all levels.
As the frontline actor in land use, and housing policy, counties remain committed to working with all stakeholders in advancing comprehensive housing solutions. Counties gladly voice our appreciation to Governor Moore for both the targeted nature of this housing package, and for his Administration’s months-long collaboration with local leaders. While counties do have refining concerns as mentioned above, none of these issues are insurmountable
HB 538’s cross-file, SB 484, was heard on March 1, 2024 in the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee. Dominic Butchko testified in support of this bill with amendments.
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