On February 26, Director of Intergovernmental Relations Dominic Butchko testified before the Economic Matters committee in opposition to HB 778 – Land Use – Middle Housing Options – Requirements.
This bill would effectively eliminate single-family zoning in every corner of Maryland, drastically upending Maryland’s commitment to smart growth principles and challenging counties’ ability to balance new development with other state and local priorities.
While counties share the State’s commitment to expanding affordable housing—and have helped advance major recent reforms such as the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024 and statewide authorization of Accessory Dwelling Units legislation of 2025—this proposal departs from Maryland’s long-standing smart growth framework.
Rather than building on collaborative, data-driven housing strategies, the bill would impose a sweeping, one-size-fits-all zoning mandate that limits local planning discretion, creates implementation uncertainty, and risks unintended fiscal, infrastructure, and public safety consequences.
A central focus for the Administration, local governments, and the public has been assessing how current systems function and where processes can be improved. While HB 778 appears intended to align with that objective, it falls short of a well-tailored response to Maryland’s current needs and would create significant implementation challenges.
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