Read a PDF of our statement here.

The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) today commended the Maryland General Assembly for passing the Fair Chance Housing Act (SB 937) and Fair Housing and Housing Discrimination – Regulations, Intent, and Discriminatory Effect (HB 573). Together, the passage of this legislation marks a significant step forward in ensuring that every resident in the state of Maryland has access to affordable and accessible housing in well-resourced neighborhoods of their choice, without unfair discrimination standing in their way.

SB 937 places limits on how landlords use criminal background checks, ensuring applicants are evaluated on their qualifications as tenants today, such as their ability to reliably pay rent and be a good neighbor, rather than their past. SB 937 is the most progressive statewide fair chance at housing legislation in the country. HB 573 strengthens state fair housing laws by codifying existing protections against policies that have unjustified discriminatory effects and by ensuring Maryland takes proactive steps to combat housing discrimination and overcome patterns of housing segregation.

LDF held briefings and information sessions for Maryland legislators to make the implementation and impact of these bills clear and provided oral and written testimony encouraging members to pass these critical pieces of legislation.

“While the Trump administration unlawfully abdicates its responsibilities to protect people in this country from discrimination, state legislative victories like this one in Maryland are especially significant,” said Demetria McCain, Director of Policy at LDF. “As we commemorate the 58th anniversary of the federal Fair Housing Act, these landmark pieces of legislation remind us that strong fair housing laws and practices are deeply necessary to ensure our communities have a roof over their head in a neighborhood of their choice. We applaud the Maryland General Assembly and Governor Wes Moore for safeguarding the public’s fair housing rights in this way.”

“The state of Maryland took a major step in opening doors to affordable housing for countless people across the state,” said David Wheaton, Assistant Policy Counsel at LDF. “We know that these pieces of legislation will have a tangible, positive impact on the lives of so many Black Maryland residents who face rampant discrimination and barriers to accessing housing in the state. This historic win would not have been possible without the advocacy, support, and deep commitment of community partners and social justice organizations. LDF will continue its work advocating to ensure Black people aren’t unnecessarily and unfairly blocked from fair and affordable housing across the United States.”

LDF partnered with the Vera Institute of Justice, Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD), Public Justice Center, Life After Release, Out for Justice, and Maryland Legal Aid to support SB 937. Groups advocating for HB 573 included LDF, Economic Action Maryland, Maryland Legal Aid, Public Justice Center, Policy & Race Research Action Council (PPRAC), and Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership.

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Founded in 1940, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) is the nation’s first civil rights legal organization. LDF has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957, though it was founded under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall while he was at the NAACP. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute (TMI) is a division of LDF that undertakes innovative research and houses LDF’s archive. In all media attributions, please refer to us as the Legal Defense Fund or LDF (do not include NAACP) and refer to the Institute as LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute or