[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6641894,"mediaKeyId","3522299-4bec8fb4297816da53f70582d2d7ebc6","parentId",3522299,"title","Prince George’s Council approves tenant relocation payments ordinance after heated debate; 6-0-2","audioSeconds",1981,"startMs",2389000,"endMs",4370000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3522299-4bec8fb4297816da53f70582d2d7ebc6&start=2389&end=4370","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3522299-4bec8fb4297816da53f70582d2d7ebc6/thumbnail_2389000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641894/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Prince-Georges-Council-approves-tenant-relocation-payments-ordinance-after-heated-debate-6-0-2","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641894-e4d266a2d46d6ef189fdf337bfc82ddb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441172&Signature=LMG-paQp-zAwJqoNoz02Hsq2rb4JzwXVA2WNjSbrQGRShAxRwyZ1iWhjo7L86iIhm8Hw~OpxlAp-yIhEMqGJAW3Hkyg3oB0Hk6LD39TDyWe0GLJfHMM~wULPMWcadU4xRt8gu6S6LOREzy9gn8l41O1Ct0epRDMibdz3~Pccji6qLrSGmKIdyf5wAb41-BZDsmpGmiWpK6EZLgEX5hRFM705EQadKd05RYBE7tkHV0fNFt2dVjmvheY4fguB-WxoLAs5s8CDt3o3VvOTgahHpUKINpsuxNUHo-x02HjYB449xBfiQEDphD5BPeNZk1mG4Xy4FUFmIsXDQpCsLyjAcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Prince George","date","2025-05-27T00:00:00Z","article","Prince George's County Council on May 27 enacted CB 17-2025, a landlord-tenant relations bill that requires relocation payments for tenants when rental housing is deemed unfit for human habitation. The ordinance passed the council floor vote with six ayes, zero noes and two abstentions.

Council members and members of the public spent more than an hour debating the scope of the bill and exemptions for landlord liability. Supporters said the measure would ensure displaced tenants receive prompt assistance; opponents — chiefly property owners and managers — warned the law could burden affordable housing operators and expose landlords to large costs even when damage was caused by tenants.

The bill requires landlords to provide relocation payments when a unit is temporarily or permanently uninhabitable, and it specifies payment formulas for permanent displacement including three months’ rent at fair market value. The ordinance includes a narrow set of exemptions already in the draft: small landlords (five or fewer dwelling units), buildings condemned due to natural disaster, and single-owner two-unit dwellings where the owner occupies one unit. On the council floor, a proposed amendment to add a further exemption for displacement caused by a tenant was offered but failed for lack of a second.

During the public hearing, representatives of property-owner groups and affordable-housing managers testified that the bill in its current form would impose significant financial risk. Hugo Cantu of the Apartments and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington said the measure diverged from Montgomery County’s relocation law by lacking exemptions for tenant-caused damage and urged three changes: (1) exempt tenant-caused events (fires, illegal activity), (2) require tenants to carry renters insurance, and (3) allow landlords to offer alternative housing when appropriate. He warned that recent insurance-market volatility and premium increases could make compliance onerous for owners.

Speakers from large property managers said tenant-caused events — balcony grilling fires, unreported leaks that lead to mold remediation, or intentional arson — have in the past displaced dozens of households and required long repair timelines. One management executive said their firm experienced a fire that displaced 20 families; rebuilding and remediation took months and caused more than $4 million in economic loss, with at least $500,000 of out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance. Southern Management’s Lynn Phillips and Humphrey Management’s Jessica Zuniga Sanaria asked the council to exempt tenant-caused damage and to consider excluding income-restricted affordable housing, which they say operates with tightly constrained budgets and financing restrictions.

Council members who supported the bill said it grew out of constituent cases in which seniors and other residents were temporarily left without adequate housing or notice. Vice Chair Oriada, the primary sponsor in the council session, said the legislation was intended to provide immediate relief for displaced residents and to create minimum standards for tenant relocation assistance. Several council members urged continued work after enactment to craft clarifying amendments that address exceptional cases and insurance issues.

The council declined on the floor to adopt an amendment that would have explicitly exempted landlord obligations when displacement was caused by a tenant’s actions. After extended discussion, the council voted to enact CB 17-2025. The final recorded outcome was: approved, yes 6, no 0, abstain 2.

The enactment does not itself require renters insurance, and the council acknowledged further work may be necessary to address cases where tenant conduct caused the damage and to consider targeted exemptions for certain affordable housing financing types. Sponsors and other members indicated an openness to follow-up legislation or committee work to refine the statute.

Action on CB 17 follows a broader local policy debate about tenant protections and the operational impacts of local mandates on developers and affordable-housing operators. Implementation details — including administrative procedures, notice requirements to tenants and landlords, and coordination with state rules — remain to be clarified by council staff and the county executive’s office.

Votes at a glance: the ordinance passed on final enactment with a recorded outcome of 6 yes, 0 no, 2 abstentions. Two abstentions were stated on the record during the final vote.

The county clerk will publish the enacted text and the date of effect in accordance with county procedures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Prince George - County Council - May 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Prince George's County Council on May 27 enacted CB 17-2025, requiring landlords to provide relocation payments when a rental unit is declared unfit for human habitation; the measure passed the final vote 6-0-2 after extended public testimony and on-the-floor debate.","taxTitle","Prince George's County, Maryland","taxId",3378,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6641885,"Votes at a glance: Prince George’s County Council actions on May 27, 2025",6103,303000,6406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3522299-4bec8fb4297816da53f70582d2d7ebc6&start=303&end=6406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3522299-4bec8fb4297816da53f70582d2d7ebc6/thumbnail_303000.jpg","/articles/6641885/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Prince-Georges-County-Council-actions-on-May-27-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641885-b5cc92eb5bdb09a05942ebc164987624/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441172&Signature=DecsCvpbc4xkroOHEPStcF770F-W0abA6anmRkG5yV2FJQw7nIqwHv6PdtUlvMKgP97yNk7R1SpuFZF8II-P1fQg3o4acwzI~Uhe2c6zTaRzo9AtrbkhO7iRXQhak80nPe7ecder69izW35hGxDQzENxo80yOgzaPhLuuqPtvlIa8U5juZxYkfAKKvp7kmgqfo28L8r2pTdm~pHKR3ejIqVsKhcDEg6jqRX8GE-pVzz0UT67cH6p2Y2KuI6rd~EGDnXTAKo6C9kaT8NTMj8nZgqqlwgKDX5p5VgDQORXVJh-VfS3nZXKLUZQyjdshaiZERh81FmSOCx4DgS8-sIK-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George's County Council handled a multi-item agenda on May 27, 2025. Below are enacted measures and final outcomes recorded during the legislative day.

Key enacted ordinances and resolutions (final recorded outcomes):

- CB 8-2025 (public-safety real property tax credit, add Maryland-National Capital Park Police): enacted, 9-0.
- CB 17-2025 (tenant relocation payments when rental housing is unfit for habitation): enacted, 6-0-2 (two abstentions recorded).
- CB 44-2025 (noncommercial trailer parking restrictions / public hearing eligible for final enactment listed as CB44): enacted, 9-0.
- CB 20-2025 (fire safety code amendments and civil penalties): enacted, 7-0.
- CB 21-2025 (classification plan amendments — county personnel classes): enacted, 7-0.
- CB 25-2025 (collective bargaining agreement: Correctional Officer Association, civilian unit): enacted, 7-0.
- CB 28-2025 (collective bargaining agreement: International Association of Firefighters, civilian unit): enacted, 8-0.
- CR 37-2025 (2018 water and sewer plan December 2024 amendments — category changes and redesignations): adopted, 8-0.
- CR 42-2025 (salary schedule amendment for Correctional Officers Association civilian unit): adopted, 8-0.
- CR 44-2025 (contract approvals, substitute Draft 2 adopted with removal of several contracts; final adoption): adopted, 7-0.
- CR 45-2025 (salary schedule amendment for IAFF Local 1619 civilian unit): adopted, 7-0.
- CR 52-2025 (Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission recreation fund transfers): adopted, 7-0.
- CR 57-2025 (Prince George’s County 5-Year Transit Vision Plan): adopted, 7-0.

Several other bills and resolutions were introduced or referred to committees, including multiple stop-sign/stop-sign-monitoring resolutions (CR 58–CR 70 series), numerous code updates (CB 38, CB 39, CB 41, CB 45, among others), and supplemental appropriations (CB 54-2025). Many of those items were introduced and referred to the appropriate committee for further review.

Where there was public testimony or extended discussion, the clerk’s minutes and committee reports noted the substance: public-safety personnel and park police testified in favor of CB-8; property owners, management firms and housing advocates testified at length on CB-17, raising concerns about insurer availability, tenant-caused damage, and impacts on income-restricted affordable housing.

Council procedure notes: several items were amended in committee (for example, the GOP committee’s substitute draft for contract approvals removed several vendors before the council adopted the package). The council also designated legislative day #13 and recessed at midday before reconvening as the Committee of the Whole for several resolutions.

This roundup lists final outcomes recorded on the legislative day; staff will post enacted texts, committee reports, and final roll-call records in the official minutes and on the county website.","A compact roundup of measures the council enacted or adopted during the May 27 legislative day, including tax-credit changes, public-safety and personnel matters, infrastructure and contract approvals.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6641890,"Council unanimously expands public-safety property tax credit to include Maryland-National Capital Park Police",249,1289000,1538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3522299-4bec8fb4297816da53f70582d2d7ebc6&start=1289&end=1538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3522299-4bec8fb4297816da53f70582d2d7ebc6/thumbnail_1289000.jpg","/articles/6641890/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Council-unanimously-expands-public-safety-property-tax-credit-to-include-Maryland-National-Capital-Park-Police","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641890-45e7de0604ce14a8b6fa1366a56ad8e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770441172&Signature=lRWFWub3IvkhaRy2mVKDfDxpaGDXVgmXkdjyj0lb-gpIDkqgjVeuglC7YTsMha3w7m~GXiUBqJiGPsJ4NcQfDijmb~8A9LfYL7Gd2f8pMlQ4K7r12OBK5LQFoTrlbj~OcwshjfOEITGIHkEt7x7DDvUQf~nMIakS0YS-zOhpDRe3jCR0qhkCLPgmMGIo2JuHk-dGr4eDub9z465mwGdHZauIm~cmCNIr6u5y03~f~BBSiXHpyzguQI3v2emT2EYOPzbCavSASxJ0rEQtLI8cdDLsULdYcgckLufUq~1npI1uJh54MYVk8W1bfNajZj449ahnwA2TjHvoSkgx-BQjOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George's County Council on May 27 enacted CB 8-2025, which revises the county’s real property tax credit for public safety officers to explicitly include Maryland-National Capital Park Police officers. The measure passed by voice vote with unanimous support.

Supporters from the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 30, and park police officers testified during the public hearing that the Park Police perform law enforcement duties across parks, historic sites and public events throughout the county and that extending the real property tax credit would encourage officers to live in the county and assist recruitment. Trevin Sherrard, first vice president of FOP Lodge 30, told the council that roughly one-third of Maryland-National Capital Park Police officers currently live in Prince George’s County and that including the agency in the existing tax credit would “make sense” to attract and retain officers.

Lieutenant Calvin Charles, testifying as a county resident and park police officer, described routine off-duty assistance he provides countywide and said the credit would help his family and could encourage other Park Police officers to become county residents.

Council members praised the bill sponsor and the agency’s service and moved to enact on the same day. The motion to enact was made by Council Member Blaguay and seconded by Council Member Fisher. The clerk recorded unanimous support during the roll call and the bill was adopted.

The bill is a revision to a county policy previously enacted in 2023; the council’s change adds the park police agency to the list of eligible public safety personnel for the tax credit. The council’s action leaves implementation steps — such as administrative guidance and how officers apply for the credit — to the county’s Department of Finance and the assessor’s office.

Council remarks emphasized recruitment and public-safety recognition as primary objectives for the amendment. The council’s recorded outcome on the motion to enact was 9-0 in favor.","County bill CB-8-2025 amending the county’s real property tax credit for public safety officers was enacted unanimously after testimony from the Fraternal Order of Police and park police officers seeking parity with other public safety agencies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Prince George’s Council approves tenant relocation payments ordinance after heated debate; 6-0-2

Votes at a glance: Prince George’s County Council actions on May 27, 2025

Council unanimously expands public-safety property tax credit to include Maryland-National Capital Park Police