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Lengthy House debate over good-cause eviction bill fails to adopt several landlord-friendly amendments
Summary
Lawmakers debated House Bill 774 for hours, trading amendments over holdover tenancies, proof burdens, attorney’s fees and eligibility for legal aid. Most sponsor-proposed landlord protections failed; several narrower amendments were adopted. The bill is printed for third reading.
Madam Speaker convened a lengthy floor debate on House Bill 774, a measure to authorize local jurisdictions to adopt "good cause" reasons for terminating residential leases, and to define multiple grounds for nonrenewal. The bill was read as a special order and the maker from the Eastern Shore opened with an explanation of an amendment that would have clarified rent obligations during prolonged holding-over disputes.
The floor leader repeatedly urged the body to resist several amendments as redundant or conflicting with existing landlord-tenant law and emphasized that HB 774 is enabling legislation that counties must choose to adopt. The maker from the Eastern Shore argued several landlord-facing amendments were needed to protect small…
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