Maryland HB 928: Discrimination in Housing - Citizenship, Immigration Status, and National Origin

Bill Text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0928*

HOUSE BILL 928
D5, N1 2lr0345
CF 2lr0347
By: Delegate Palakovich Carr
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2022
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Discrimination in Housing – Citizenship, Immigration Status, and National 2
Origin 3

FOR the purpose of stating the policy of the State to provide fair housing, regardless of 4
certain citizenship or immigration status; prohibiting certain discrimination related 5
to the sale or rental of a dwelling on the basis of citizenship or immigration status, 6
subject to certain exceptions; prohibiting certain inquiries and disclosures relating 7
to a person’s citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in connection with 8
the rental of a dwelling; and generally relating to discriminatory housing practices. 9

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – State Government 11
Section 20–701(a) and 20–1020(a) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2021 Replacement Volume) 14

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – State Government 16
Section 20–701(c), 20–702, 20–705, 20–707, 20–901, 20–1020(e), and 20–1103 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2021 Replacement Volume) 19

BY adding to 20
Article – State Government 21
Section 20–708.1 22
Annotated Code of Maryland 23
(2021 Replacement Volume) 24

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 25
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 26

2 HOUSE BILL 928

Article – State Government 1

20–701. 2

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 3

(c) “Discriminatory housing practice” means an act that is prohibited under § 4
20–705, § 20–706, § 20–707, [or] § 20–708, OR § 20–708.1 of this subtitle. 5

20–702. 6

(a) It is the policy of the State: 7

(1) to provide for fair housing throughout the State to all, regardless of 8
race, color, religion, sex, familial status, CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION STATUS, national 9
origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or source of income; 10
and 11

(2) to that end, to prohibit discriminatory practices with respect to 12
residential housing by any person, in order to protect and ensure the peace, health, safety, 13
prosperity, and general welfare of all. 14

(b) This subtitle: 15

(1) is an exercise of the police power of the State for the protection of the 16
people of the State; and 17

(2) shall be administered and enforced by the Commission and, as provided 18
in this title, enforced by the appropriate State court. 19

20–705. 20

Except as provided in §§ 20–703 and 20–704 of this subtitle, a person may not: 21

(1) refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, refuse to 22
negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any 23
person because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual 24
orientation, gender identity, CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION STATUS, national origin, or 25
source of income; 26

(2) discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges 27
of the sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection 28
with the sale or rental of a dwelling, because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital 29
status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION 30
STATUS, national origin, or source of income; 31

HOUSE BILL 928 3

(3) make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published, any 1
notice, statement, or advertisement with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that 2
indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, 3
disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, 4
CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION STATUS, national origin, or source of income, or an intention 5
to make any preference, limitation, or discrimination; 6

(4) represent to any person, because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, 7
marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, CITIZENSHIP, 8
IMMIGRATION STATUS, national origin, or source of income, that any dwelling is not 9
available for inspection, sale, or rental when the dwelling is available; or 10

(5) for profit, induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any 11
dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood 12
of a person of a particular race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, 13
sexual orientation, gender identity, CITIZENSHIP, IMMIGRATION STATUS, national 14
origin, or source of income. 15

20–707. 16

(a) In this section, “residential real estate–related transaction” means: 17

(1) the making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial 18
assistance: 19

(i) for purch