Housing bill to streamline production one step closer to becoming law

Annapolis, Md. – Housing is a hot-button issue nationwide, and the same is true in Maryland, especially on the Eastern Shore. There is a lot of debate at the state level, where Eastern Shore representatives are trying to balance the need for housing with considerations specific to the shore.

Delegate Tom Hutchinson says typical housing conversations at the state level have more urban and mass-transit locations in mind and oftentimes the more rural areas of the Eastern Shore are left out.

“When we balance housing and the Eastern Shore, I got to look at that in a balance to infrastructure, particularly around wastewater, you know, sewage facilities,” he said. “Can we really handle the impact of that much additional housing coming over into the Eastern Shore?”

One piece of legislation, the Maryland Certainty Act of 2026, would allegedly streamline the approval process for housing and more heavily involve local governments in the approval process. Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes, a proponent of the legislation, says the bill would get rid of fees that slow down production.

“That way we can really curtail some of the added expenses that are put on when houses are being built,” she said. “And sometimes that has been the case where, all these fees start to incur before the project is totally completed.”

Sample-Hughes said housing is a main concern for her constituents, especially as prices surge. She says voices from local government are essential to keep the conversation tailored to each area.

The Maryland Housing Certainty Act has been crossfiled in each chamber and has been referred to the Economic Matters Committee in the House with a hearing set for Thursday at 1 p.m.