[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6354896,"mediaKeyId","2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1","parentId",2219472,"title","State seeks to simplify and update Maryland planning principles; lawmakers and stakeholders press for rural, conservation, and implementation detail","audioSeconds",1054,"startMs",4346000,"endMs",5400000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1&start=4346&end=5400","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1/thumbnail_4346000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6354896/Maryland/State-seeks-to-simplify-and-update-Maryland-planning-principles-lawmakers-and-stakeholders-press-for-rural-conservation-and-implementation-detail","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354896-0b76627412c16710c00efdda9dc80bf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776054403&Signature=MFLgtT8Oqp4lQVhRyVYKArmHGWo6hoXcqWI2uu50Smcj60po9kt2R08KBCc9RQPmgU4ajiS-ZhYiQq1Kiz7qKn~9qF97D6nBWnpBAUbJzSeYEz-5r4pN3gyeQ17KZS7VF0g~Ru7olqLcY8uRNufdXhfsUL9xgn8XP4gWYDEeVNwfa8ZvPoT2pv3U4Gdj-OSFl9vEgzBhYVkmzLSJ6H6r3WWQsOWXQ-rJuHRH6dXNGDlErzYRrt63L-EcqfSZnmfGcFOS2QAcX2n3yGLoa53WAFR8-Cy4EdGuvs7npY-3iaGFYfNaHSjMPMCnS3BUKVPS3AcqVQS47W5OIRG0wS8ANw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Environment and Transportation","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","The committee reviewed House Bill 286, a proposed update to Maryland’s State planning principles aimed at simplifying statutory language and adding resilience, equity and implementation guidance.

Maryland Department of Planning officials told the panel the growth policy statute has not been substantially updated in about 15 years and that HB 286 seeks to replace lengthy guidance with eight concise planning principles and an accompanying non‑regulatory implementation guide. The department said it held regional roundtables, engaged the Sustainable Growth Subcabinet and sought input from counties, municipalities and conservation groups.

“Smart growth since the nineties has been a huge success,” the department representative said, and the revised principles are intended to improve clarity and allow localities to apply guidance to different “transect” typologies from rural to dense urban areas. The department emphasized that the bill does not change zoning authority and that the implementation guide will provide case studies and tools.

Several committee members asked how the change would interact with recent local zoning overhauls. A delegate noted Prince George’s County’s recent comprehensive zoning rewrite; planning staff said the principles are guidance for comprehensive plans and would not automatically force jurisdictions to rezone.

Some stakeholders supported the modernization but urged specific additions. Charlotte Davis of the Rural Maryland Council said the bill should explicitly include land conservation and preservation to reach the state’s 40% land‑preservation goal and asked that redevelopment of brownfields and broadband/infrastructure needs for rural economic development be named in the principles. The secretary’s office said natural‑resource protections are retained in multiple provisions and that detail will live in the implementation guide.

Environmental and conservation groups said they had engaged with the department; local governments and municipal leagues described their stance as neutral and welcomed clarifying guidance to reduce confusion for jurisdictions with limited planning capacity.

The committee took no vote; staff said they would circulate amendments and an implementation guide will be developed as a living document to provide technical assistance to localities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ENT Committee Session, 2/4/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","The Department of Planning proposed simplifying Maryland’s land‑use principles in House Bill 286 and adding resilience and equity, while promising a non‑regulatory implementation guide to help local governments apply the rules.","taxTitle","Environment and Transportation Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15060,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6354901,"Department of Planning seeks automatic notice when municipalities adopt annexations to keep state maps current",164,3990000,4154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1&start=3990&end=4154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1/thumbnail_3990000.jpg","/articles/6354901/Maryland/Department-of-Planning-seeks-automatic-notice-when-municipalities-adopt-annexations-to-keep-state-maps-current","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354901-51ca0c717afdb3b575f65ee80dc1a201/orig.mp4?Expires=1776054403&Signature=ZIHScURPnQtZVf79BWLHWome4w4y5i7rOu5qb01lXL6mm~y1gcJ3tG-WB89RiN09ELp-jF1XmKSth9RyachNXkaABJbNYBArKN0oowGiKelUVCIYRvNe2ul1EGwj6TEFDWUVtKXs-bqcJahRcLhkdQlk-Y7lxbWbtQHVqznhc8BkrG3LpXY5VMt5lZpDWpp4sAZhlWKU9Ud~68a-6KIVCP9mtl4~QNimcgIDpsc48t91nIeN1xWGqpeyuwjWWPROCNxGjl54xzW5pHYvZiPejIxFw1VSI9XcXZAg2sfUW8BqWXRzXP9iAkUORU0BhboiLhLI5pUPJ8857sV0feVUxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Planning staff asked the committee to pass House Bill 279 to require municipalities to copy the department when they submit annexation resolutions, allowing the agency to update statewide municipal boundary maps more promptly.

A department official told the panel the change is administrative: adding the agency to existing notice lists would impose “no added work for anybody other than a CC” and would help Planning update GIS data after annexations occur. Department staff said they already review roughly 31 annexation proposals per year on average (2022–2024), covering about 1,444 acres per year.

Committee members pressed whether the change would give the department any new authority to block or delay annexations. Assistant Secretary Chuck Boyd said the department’s role would remain informational: it reviews and provides consistency comments under land‑use law but does not approve or prohibit annexations.

Lawmakers also asked whether regional planning bodies notify the department; staff said some regional offices do not routinely send the state a copy and the bill seeks to ensure the state gets consistent notification so statewide mapping remains accurate.

No formal action was taken in the hearing; lawmakers asked a few clarifying questions and staff said the amendment language would be available to clarify that the bill is strictly a notice requirement.","The Maryland Department of Planning asked lawmakers to add the department to the notification list municipal governments send after annexation actions, so the state’s GIS and review records stay current; committee members asked whether the bill would change local approval powers — department said it would not.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6354906,"Maryland panel weighs creating first statewide homeless-shelter certification and minimum-standards program",3850,203000,4053000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1&start=203&end=4053","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1/thumbnail_203000.jpg","/articles/6354906/Maryland/Maryland-panel-weighs-creating-first-statewide-homeless-shelter-certification-and-minimum-standards-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354906-996b9995aa6eab9b423499f93cb53eed/orig.mp4?Expires=1776054403&Signature=Mce97C40z-dzL5b92djAlmu6OAYfv6zJHPZ6WY-R14xSzMIbGF6SdK9aPnYLEmfPUiJQ0uNSZK4EDqRxIxp8bOi3rWpFixzgfNIs-Vqt8x1~kcofwIR7z45yIHO0BZySmWB623R3uqFew6avjIjL5mGAUXq57zohzpyACaTx~QVE8qKwzvB5WpP2TrQiY~KN7fX4U2U7bko3UBoKDtlItFBnByO43tCG-lUY9tn~lfZnlr74XrLf0NpX9gEdGazsdzbGB0dvm7odxPFBYmWcaj2QEfEvynZ32zgOUmnzRkz4g9lJT4HIaUAEMy0BBNLpZMVP-4IDO22oVNa-iWLFUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Environment and Transportation Committee heard testimony on House Bill 93 on shelter certification, a proposal that would require Maryland to set minimum operating standards and a certification process for homeless shelters statewide.

The bill was presented by Jake Day, secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, who said the department is proposing “a first homeless shelter certification process and minimum standards, [and] a regulatory framework to ensure safe, equitable, and trauma‑informed care.” He added that “every year in Maryland, over 25,000 Marylanders will experience homelessness and sleep in a shelter or outside in the elements.”

The measure’s supporters said state oversight is necessary because shelter practices now vary with funding sources and local policies. Secretary Lourdes Roque of the Maryland Department of Aging told the committee older adults are a growing share of those using shelters: “Between fiscal ’18 and fiscal ’23, Maryland experienced a 77% increase in homelessness of older adults over the age of 65,” she said, arguing that accessibility, staffing and training are especially important for that population.

Assistant Secretary Danielle Meister, who led the statutory study the bill builds on, described a two‑phase process of stakeholder consultation that produced a proposed tiered certification and substantial technical assistance: “We would provide free virtual on demand trainings … template policies and procedures for shelters to be able to use and adapt for their own use to go through the certification process.” Meister said the report recommends different standards for different shelter types, including separate guidance for cold‑weather or hypothermia shelters.

Advocates with lived experience testified in favor. Ebony Battle of Housing Our Neighbors, a Baltimore group made up of people with lived experience of homelessness, described outreach work and clients who “were put on the streets for medically unavoidable or trivial reasons,” citing examples such as eviction for minor housekeeping concerns or denial of admission for family composition. “Housing is dignity, health care, and a human right,” Battle told the panel.

Mark Council of Housing Our Neighbors said some unsheltered people decline shelter because they consider it less safe than sleeping outside. Several witnesses recounted personal accounts of people who froze or died after being denied shelter. The Public Justice Center and Maryland Legal Aid also testified in favor.

Religious and mission providers said they support safe shelters but warned the bill as drafted could impose operational burdens or conflict with religious practice. Daniel Stalsfus, CEO of Helping Up Mission, said his organization is a recovery community that does some overnight housing and that a broad, low‑barrier requirement “would force us to become a low barrier housing first provider” and could “lead to a significant contraction of shelter beds.” Pastor George Jones of the Baltimore Rescue Mission said his organization declines government funding for religious reasons and worried state rules could conflict with religious practices.

Committee members pressed DHCD about safeguards for small volunteer or faith‑run cold‑weather programs. Day pointed to the tiered classification and the 12‑month compliance window in the bill’s proposed amendments, and Meister emphasized the plan to tailor standards and to avoid imposing service minimums that funding does not support.

No formal vote was taken in the hearing; committee members asked for additional drafts and stakeholder work. Department staff and several witnesses said they expect further amendments to address county emergency managers and Continuums of Care and to clarify how the rules would apply to volunteer cold‑weather efforts.

The committee also heard many personal accounts and asked DHCD to provide further details on implementation timelines, enforcement, and how certification would interact with existing county or federal funding rules.","Department of Housing and Community Development proposed House Bill 93 to create a state certification and regulatory framework for homeless shelters, citing deaths and inconsistent practices; supporters urged a favorable report while some faith-based operators warned of burdens and possible bed losses.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6354886,"Lawmakers consider bill to require air conditioning when apartments are built or renovated, drawing public‑health and industry debate",1084,6200000,7284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1&start=6200&end=7284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1/thumbnail_6200000.jpg","/articles/6354886/Maryland/Lawmakers-consider-bill-to-require-air-conditioning-when-apartments-are-built-or-renovated-drawing-publichealth-and-industry-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354886-5265c42b8a6945bf243b965288b38ccb/orig.mp4?Expires=1776054403&Signature=hjozZbDsQHRWo10565A0-C4ixwgGzBCXE0La4J8p7N0eFgXzWprg2zYPYdo~bkWJER~CRUDpJ4cW2DFnln43sC1qdvrrEfHe1cdvyL6Z2scEfhGGCBCk3bN-o7KP0R8o0pmhDkhnZ2VciFmvCD-9gmD0TYbOUdNZhEtk0zt55FGBWXVveHEUS6R7ruEKQNDrg5YvSCJSZlWAhPfjQ2VtvAn~Ijev1b8bF1Dh3i8TuClvG-xw4WM5uLrOI1ixUUpP2~alHXde~jNiLx0bOU-7qubu0lfUoPlNSAfPRUstnQox1LzLpb3FggLEW2sx5VbDQ~kVGpZdGiimLnEe14FyjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee heard House Bill 339, a proposal to require air conditioning in certain rental apartment units after new construction or substantial renovation and to use ASHRAE Standard 55 to define acceptable thermal conditions.

Sponsor Delegate Mary L. Layman said the bill responds to increasing extreme heat and scientific evidence that lack of cooling worsens health risks for infants, older adults and people with chronic conditions. “This bill is not about providing comfort,” she said. “It is a tool to preempt public‑health crises before they happen.” She said the measure avoids a single fixed seasonal window and instead uses ASHRAE’s scientifically derived temperature guidance to set a target that varies with occupant vulnerability.

Public‑interest and legal‑aid groups testified in favor. Albert Turner of the Public Justice Center said cooling is not currently a required life‑safety feature under Maryland escrow law and called HB 339 “a step in the right direction” to protect older adults and children. Zephyr Shaff of Maryland Legal Aid described a pending tenant case in Baltimore where a judge declined to find a lack of cooling violated law because no cooling standard exists locally; she said the bill would change that in buildings that are renovated under the bill.

Technical witnesses from ASHRAE supported including Standard 55. Stephen Hammerling, ASHRAE’s senior manager for standards, said the standard describes “specific requirements and methods for achieving satisfactory thermal conditions” and urged the committee to adopt an engineering‑based approach rather than a single‑number rule.

Public testimony from housing advocates and renters’ groups stressed equity. Tim Hung of the Montgomery County Renters Alliance and other tenant witnesses said renters—especially children, the elderly and low‑income households—are at elevated heat risk and that access to cooling should not be a luxury.

Industry and landlord groups opposed the bill as drafted or urged changes. The Apartment and Office Building Association and the Maryland Building Industry Association said ASHRAE technical language is intended for HVAC professionals and questioned whether it should be embedded in statute; they urged the committee to consider existing local ordinances (Montgomery and Prince George’s counties) as models and to avoid imposing standards that would retroactively trigger costly upgrades. Witnesses also sought clarity on whether window units would satisfy the standard if they can meet the ASHRAE‑based target.

Committee members pressed ASHRAE and advocates about how compliance would be measured in practice; ASHRAE representatives said the standard sets target indoor conditions and that compliance could be verified by measuring indoor temperature in each dwelling unit. Lawmakers asked about cost, triggers for applicability (new construction vs routine maintenance), and interaction with local ordinances; sponsor and stakeholders said they expect further drafting work in subcommittee before a final vote.

No formal vote was taken in the hearing.","House Bill 339 would require air conditioning in new or substantially altered rental apartment units, using ASHRAE Standard 55 to define acceptable indoor conditions; public‑health groups and tenants’ advocates urged passage, while building and landlord groups raised implementation and cost concerns and urged use of existing county standards.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6354891,"Delegate Holmes seeks greater transparency for developer‑controlled common‑interest communities; AG supports notice and anti‑commingling rules",306,5504000,5810000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1&start=5504&end=5810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2219472-3152cbb960b0433a1ac04c8655dd74c1/thumbnail_5504000.jpg","/articles/6354891/Maryland/Delegate-Holmes-seeks-greater-transparency-for-developercontrolled-commoninterest-communities-AG-supports-notice-and-anticommingling-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6354891-2113c2ed158951333462a4b45962c121/orig.mp4?Expires=1776054403&Signature=VUfEEGexiFARCYusjxXIoIhrUaRQL9DMz7F7ij3vWV-K360VIGP0~bwK~CJA81O6-580jMfD2JiEHkl6GOTpSCSasdPLOJ021PoBUAuFCTjxAba9DKFiYQhqbj2~cWKLIgAYJZm89eQ1tkL~xhwaNKTEcJmuKFiCpI5ZHtZKGqgEMzrGj4g8~CaTngWlB9SF6lQ0zpXZ07GZ95CNfPkQhc4ehmz20IGqFrc8IIkVy4fL8Zh7zOspyztdynVg6~IHKwVmYaBMSo8SP8mndCb~9LGyiVa0LAKAke1Is1sNchKbkMvIkwABGmXbOKKRa~A~esyPpdCbIr89r6cMBq1Waw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee considered House Bill 295, a bill from Delegate Marvin Holmes that would change governance rules for developer‑controlled common ownership communities, requiring developers to include a lot or unit owner on the board during transition and improving notice and bonding transparency to buyers.

Delegate Holmes said the bill would give new owners “intellectual history” of the association by ensuring at least one owner participates with the developer during the pre‑transition period. The bill also would require notice to owners before a developer’s construction bond is released so homeowners can alert the jurisdiction if roads or other work remain incomplete.

Karen Straughan of the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division testified in support, calling the bill “about transparency and fiscal responsibility.” She said some statutory protections that apply to associations do not apply while the developer controls the association and that requiring separate accounts “would make sure that the association members have the opportunity to know a little bit about what is going on with their community while it's still under developer control.” She also described cases where bonds were released and roads were incomplete.

The Maryland Building Industry Association and other industry witnesses said they were generally open to the bill but requested clarifications. Industry representatives asked for a technical fix to define whether the 25% threshold in the draft refers to a phased development or the entire planned project. They also questioned the utility of public notice on jurisdictional bonds, which are posted between the developer and the jurisdiction.

HOA‑advocacy groups supported owner notice and meeting‑access changes but suggested small amendments on procedures and timing. HOA United asked for a revision allowing public comment at board meetings prior to actions; the group submitted model language used in other states.

No committee vote was recorded. Sponsor and stakeholders said they would continue to negotiate technical language about phase calculations and the bond‑notice mechanism.","House Bill 295 would require developer-controlled condominium and homeowners associations to include a unit/lot owner on the board and set notice rules on bond releases; the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division backed the proposal as a transparency and fiscal‑responsibility measure; industry groups asked for technical fixes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State seeks to simplify and update Maryland planning principles; lawmakers and stakeholders press for rural, conservation, and implementation detail

Department of Planning seeks automatic notice when municipalities adopt annexations to keep state maps current

Maryland panel weighs creating first statewide homeless-shelter certification and minimum-standards program

Lawmakers consider bill to require air conditioning when apartments are built or renovated, drawing public‑health and industry debate

Delegate Holmes seeks greater transparency for developer‑controlled common‑interest communities; AG supports notice and anti‑commingling rules