Your complimentary legislative update from Howard County Association of REALTORS® | |
Cory Flere, Legislative Chair
Jimmie Jennings, RPAC Chair
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Hello HCAR Members!
I want to share with you a couple of real estate successes that came out of the 2024 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly and our local work over the last year.
- RPAC is Your Eyes And Ears On The Ground -During the 2024 Legislative Session of the Maryland General Assembly, we reviewed in depth over 220 pieces of state legislation.
- RPAC focuses on Protecting Your Business - Because of HCAR RPAC investments, we have defeated Rent Control Legislation in Howard County and a Sales Tax on Services in the State of Maryland saving you $1,000 for every $20,000 earned.
- RPAC Assists in Building For Your Future - Worked with Howard County Government to ensure that homeownership opportunities and plans are woven into the fabric of the County’s landscape for the next 20 years in the HoCo By Design General Plan).
- RPAC Provides Opportunities For Your Voice To Be Heard – HCAR has started an open meet and greet with your local elected officials series and this winter, we will host a Legislative Breakfast with state elected officials to discuss issues that impact your business.
All of this is helping REALTORS® keep more of their earnings, while saving money for buyers and sellers! How did we do it? By working to protect your business by supporting and strengthening good laws and defeating bad ones, which aim to restrict the industry. RPAC can keep defeating proposals that harm our industry or affect your bottom line with your support.
That’s why we are thrilled to let you know about our 2025 Free Raffles Dues Fundraiser to help RPAC give back to you even more! The last day to purchase your raffle ticket is Saturday, August 31st - buy your raffle ticket today!
Click here to secure your tickets for a chance at free 2025 Dues!
Jimmie Jennings,
HCAR 2024 RPAC Campaign Chair
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⚖️New Maryland Laws as of July 1, 2024 - 2024 General Assembly Update | |
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Midnight on Monday, April 8, 2024, concluded the 2024 Maryland Legislative Session. The 2024 Session was a busy one as together, Maryland Realtors and HCAR's Legislative Committee reviewed over 225 bills. Now that the Legislative Session is over, it is time to take a look at the new laws that went into effect as of July 1, 2024:
EFFECTIVE JULY 1:
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HB 7/SB 203 - Housing Innovation Pilot Program and Housing Innovation Fund
- This new program provides funding for the public housing authorities and county governments to increase the volume of housing production and incentivize innovative solutions to the problem of housing scarcity.
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HB 534/SB 90 - Live Near Your School Program – Extension
- This program, which provides current students and recent graduates with financial to buy homes near the school attended, is extended to September 30, 2030.
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HB 599 - Housing and Community Development Financing Act
- This bill establishes the Maryland Community Investment Corporation to apply for federal tax credits and make investments and financial assistance available to low-income communities.
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HB 241/SB 308 - Housing and Community Development - Just Community Designation
- The Governor may designate an area as a Just Community if past and current trends in homeownership, property values, and property vacancy show a need for reinvestment in the area.
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HB 873/SB 704 - Appraisal Gap From Historic Redlining Financial Assistance Program
- Financial assistance under the program is expanded to owner-occupant purchasers upon completion of certain affordable housing projects.
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HB 16 - Tax Sales - Homeowner Protection Program
- SDAT will maintain a website for individuals to donate to the Homeowner Protection Plan. Local tax collectors will include with property tax bills an insert that encourages those donations.
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HB 35/SB 276 - Submission of Building Permits - Estimated Construction Cost
- This bill requires county permit offices to include the estimated cost of construction when submitting a copy of a building permit to SDAT for property assessment.
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HB 54 - Property Tax - Transfer to Heir or Legatee - Payment Plans
- Localities are allowed to offer installment payment programs for taxes in arrears on any residential property. The requirement that all property taxes, assessments, and other charges due on a property be paid before a transfer is exempted if a payment plan is established.
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HB 449/SB 148 - Comprehensive Flood Management Grant Program – Funding
- At least 40% of the comprehensive flood management grant program will be used for projects located in or directly benefiting underserved or overburdened communities.
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HB 1511 - Forest Conservation Act – Modifications
- This bill delays effective dates and adjusts implementation procedures for the 2023 Forest Conservation Act, while allowing forest mitigation banking provisions to go into effect in 2024.
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HB 428/SB 370 - Rental Assistance for Community School Families Program and Fund
- This program will provide rental assistance to eligible student households within community schools that have designated concentrations of poverty and where residents are at risk of homelessness.
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HB 710/SB 559 - Household Goods Movers – Special Fund and Fees
- This bill establishes the Household Goods Movers Registration Fund administered by the Maryland Department of Labor to cover the costs of regulating the industry.
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SB 280 - Notarial Acts - Protest Form Requirement – Repeal
- This bill repeals an obsolete requirement that a notary who makes or notes a protest of a negotiable instrument must make or note the protest on a specified form issued by the Comptroller.
Looking for the outcome of a bill that isn’t mentioned above?
For more information about the 2024 Legislative Session and Maryland Realtors' advocacy efforts, click here to visit the website.
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News From the County Council | |
📰County Councilmember Newsletters | |
Support RPAC for a Chance to Win FREE 2025 Dues! | |
The RPAC Committee is excited to announce the 2025 Dues Raffle Fundraiser!
Grab your tickets for a chance to win FREE 2025 Dues!
· 1 Ticket: $5
· 10 Tickets: $25
· 25 Tickets: $50
What You Get:
· FREE NAR, Maryland REALTORS®, and HCAR 2025 Dues!
· An investment in the future of the real estate industry
Note: All tickets must be obtained by 5 PM on August 31st to be eligible for the drawing. The drawing will be held on September 2nd. You do not need to be present to win. The winner will be contacted by the phone number and/or email provided.
This is the easiest way to contribute to RPAC!
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RPAC – the REALTORS® Political Action Committee - works in conjunction with the HCAR Legislative Committee to affect legislation and initiatives that affect homeownership. RPAC pools the contributions of fellow Realtors® in Howard County, in the state of Maryland, and from across the country to elect candidates who understand you and your business. These candidates recognize the important role homeownership plays in our society, defend private property rights, and oppose costly mandates that keep buyers from realizing the American Dream.
RPAC’s success comes only through the continued participation of HCAR members like you. Protect your business in 2024 by investing in RPAC today!
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NAR Advocacy Scoop Podcast is Now Available |
The Advocacy Scoop is the only podcast that takes you inside the advocacy work of the National Association of REALTORS®.
We’ve turned one of our most popular conference sessions into a new, monthly podcast hosted by Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn and Director of Advocacy Communications Patrick Newton. Now you can stay up to date on what’s happening in Washington, D.C., and around the country, while you’re on the go!
The Advocacy Scoop is dedicated to peeling back the curtain on the advocacy operation of the world's largest trade association. The real estate sector makes up nearly 20% of the entire U.S. economy, and NAR's advocacy work is critical for housing affordability and protecting private property rights. Listeners will walk away with a better understanding of how NAR’s advocacy operation works, its many successes, and how the advocacy team is faring on some of NAR’s biggest legislative fights. Shannon and Patrick will also share insights on the 2024 Election, as well as stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
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Howard County Association of REALTORS®
8600 Snowden River Parkway, Suite 104
Columbia, MD 21045
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