Howard County
Chair: Will Pippen, Security Development
Vice Chair: Dan Sweeney, Gutschick Little & Weber
Staff Contact: Alex Andelsman
Chair: Will Pippen, Security Development
Vice Chair: Dan Sweeney, Gutschick Little & Weber
Staff Contact: Alex Andelsman
Legislative and Regulatory Issues Impacting Howard County
July 22nd, 2025
MBIA Opposes Legislation to Expand Affordability Requirements on Age-Restricted Projects
On Monday July 7th, Howard County Councilmember Liz Walsh introduced bills CB55-2025, and CB56-2025. CB55 would significantly expand affordability requirements on age-restricted housing developments across multiple zoning districts in Howard County. It adds a new 5% low-income or disability income housing mandate on top of the existing 10% moderate-income housing requirement, a community space requirement tied to unit count regardless of market demand or project size and new legal and design obligations, including enforceable age-restriction covenants and universal design requirements across all units. CB56-2025 eliminates the use of fee-in-lieu payments, off-site units, and other alternative compliance methods for meeting moderate income housing unit (MIHU) requirements in age-restricted adult housing developments. MBIA submitted a letter and testified in opposition of the bills at the public hearing on July 21st. The Council plans to vote on these bills on Wednesday July 30th.
April 21st, 2025
MBIA Opposes Howard County Council Bill 27-2025
*Update 5/5/25: This Bill failed on a 2-3 vote.*
On Monday April 7th, Councilmember Liz Walsh introduced CB27-2025 titled Open Meetings – Waiver and Variance Requests. This bill requires the evaluation of Protection of Wetlands, Streams, & Steep Slopes waivers and Forest Conservation variances be subject to the provisions of the Maryland Open Meetings Act. These meetings will be open to the public, with agendas made available ten days prior to the meeting. We believe this will lead to slower approval times and adds unpredictability to the development process. MBIA testified against this bill at Monday's work session.
March 17th, 2025
MBIA Supports Council Bill 18-25 Transit Orient Development (TOD) – Residential Units Exemptions
*Update 5/5/25: This Bill Passed on a 3-2 vote.*
On Monday March 3rd, Councilwoman Rigby introduced CB18-2025, a bill that would exempt residential developments in transit-oriented areas from school capacity testing and freezes the school facilities surcharge for transit-oriented development (TOD) projects at the rate in effect when sketch plans are submitted. These measures will speed up the construction process and allow new housing units to reach the market at a faster pace. It also provides more certainty to our industry by preventing unexpected increases in the school facilities surcharge. MBIA submitted written testimony in favor of the bill and met with the bill’s sponsor to express our support and advocate for expanding the scope of the bill beyond TOD areas. The Council is scheduled to vote on this Bill on April 7th.
MBIA Opposes Legislation to Expand Affordability Requirements on Age-Restricted Projects
On Monday July 7th, Howard County Councilmember Liz Walsh introduced bills CB55-2025, and CB56-2025. CB55 would significantly expand affordability requirements on age-restricted housing developments across multiple zoning districts in Howard County. It adds a new 5% low-income or disability income housing mandate on top of the existing 10% moderate-income housing requirement, a community space requirement tied to unit count regardless of market demand or project size and new legal and design obligations, including enforceable age-restriction covenants and universal design requirements across all units. CB56-2025 eliminates the use of fee-in-lieu payments, off-site units, and other alternative compliance methods for meeting moderate income housing unit (MIHU) requirements in age-restricted adult housing developments. MBIA submitted a letter and testified in opposition of the bills at the public hearing on July 21st. The Council plans to vote on these bills on Wednesday July 30th.
April 21st, 2025
MBIA Opposes Howard County Council Bill 27-2025
*Update 5/5/25: This Bill failed on a 2-3 vote.*
On Monday April 7th, Councilmember Liz Walsh introduced CB27-2025 titled Open Meetings – Waiver and Variance Requests. This bill requires the evaluation of Protection of Wetlands, Streams, & Steep Slopes waivers and Forest Conservation variances be subject to the provisions of the Maryland Open Meetings Act. These meetings will be open to the public, with agendas made available ten days prior to the meeting. We believe this will lead to slower approval times and adds unpredictability to the development process. MBIA testified against this bill at Monday's work session.
March 17th, 2025
MBIA Supports Council Bill 18-25 Transit Orient Development (TOD) – Residential Units Exemptions
*Update 5/5/25: This Bill Passed on a 3-2 vote.*
On Monday March 3rd, Councilwoman Rigby introduced CB18-2025, a bill that would exempt residential developments in transit-oriented areas from school capacity testing and freezes the school facilities surcharge for transit-oriented development (TOD) projects at the rate in effect when sketch plans are submitted. These measures will speed up the construction process and allow new housing units to reach the market at a faster pace. It also provides more certainty to our industry by preventing unexpected increases in the school facilities surcharge. MBIA submitted written testimony in favor of the bill and met with the bill’s sponsor to express our support and advocate for expanding the scope of the bill beyond TOD areas. The Council is scheduled to vote on this Bill on April 7th.
CONTACT US
Maryland Building Industry Association
11825 West Market Place | Fulton, MD 20759
301-776-MBIA | aandelsman@marylandbuilders.org