Here is a summary of the recent legislative session by Barbara Hoffman of the Artemis Group, MAHC's consultant in Annapolis. Also included is an attachment with profiles of each of the bills they were following for us:

"I've attached the final MAHC profile on legislation of interest to MAHC during this session of the General Assembly. Our priority bill to set up the Maryland Affordable Housing Investment Fund did not pass. It was held for Interim Study in the House Environmental Matters Committee by Del. Maggie McIntosh, who plans to bring all of the stakeholders together with her committee, including the advocate community, DHCD, and the O'Malley administration to hammer out a solution agreeable to the parties that actually moves the ball forward.

Our second priority, Affordable Housing Programs-Waiver or Modification of Fees and Charges-Enabling Authority for Counties and Municipalities (SB 281 and HB 742) passed in identical posture. These bills give counties and municipalities a tool they can use without asking state permission to increase the number of affordable housing units in their area. For our friends in Anne Arundel County we were watching a similar bill called Anne Arundel County - Development Impact Fees - Not-for-Profit Entities - the House bill (HB 515), passed, but the Senate version did not, but you don't need both to become law

We were also following the bills on Home Builders-Sales Representative Registration and Home Builder Guaranty Fund and both the House and Senate bills passed. Our primary issue was that nonprofit builders and developers not be required to pay a registration fee. Since the issue was covered successfully in HB 1557 and SB 1008, our single version bills did not need to pass.

As usual, it has been a pleasure to work on such important legislation with a highly committed group of advocates."