# Maryland SB 0046: Real Property - Wrongful Detainer - Time of Hearing and Service of Process Maryland SB 0046, Real Property - Wrongful Detainer - Time of Hearing and Service of Process, is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Ron Watson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-04-22 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 188) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0046-2025RS - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0046 - State: Maryland - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Real Property - Wrongful Detainer - Time of Hearing and Service of Process - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2024-09-20 - Last action: 2025-04-22, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 188 - Sponsor: Ron Watson (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 12 - Subjects: Real Property, Court Orders, Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., District Courts, Evidence, Fines -see also- Penalties and Sentences, Fraud -see also- Forgery, Hearings, Judgments, Notices, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Residential Property -see also- Apartments; Condominiums, Sheriffs, Summonses -see also- Subpoenas - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 4 (361 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Property claimants must show legal interest: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland wrongful detainer claimants must give the court enough evidence of their legal interest in the property. This helps protect occupants from claims that lack a demonstrated legal basis. - Property disputes have shorter appeal deadlines: cost, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, either party has 4 days to appeal a Maryland wrongful detainer judgment, down from 10. The circuit court must schedule the appeal hearing 4–7 days after application, with notice served at least 4 days beforehand. To keep possession during appeal, occupants must file a swo… - Faster possession decisions affect property occupants: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland District Courts must schedule wrongful detainer hearings 4–7 calendar days after filing. A hearing also cannot occur more than 10 business days after filing. Courts must enter a default judgment against a defendant who misses the hearing. If the claimant proves a… - Property claimants gain broader money awards: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland courts may award wrongful detainer damages, court costs, and attorney fees when the complaint requests damages. The law removes the prior requirement for personal service or other service supporting a contract or tort judgment. Claimants gain a broader path to pa… - Property occupants face new notice rules: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2025, Maryland wrongful detainer summonses can name “Occupant Located At” and the address instead of a person. The process server must file a sworn statement describing good-faith service efforts. The complaint must go by certified and first-class mail to the last known address… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Ron Watson (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Alonzo T. Washington (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Dalya Attar (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Carl Jackson (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Nick Charles (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: William G. Folden (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Mary-Dulany James (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: J.B. Jennings (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Karen Lewis Young (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Mike McKay (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Justin Ready (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Johnny Ray Salling (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Chris West (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-07 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 138 | 0 | 3 | | 2025-04-07 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 | | | 2025-04-01 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 136 | 0 | 1 | | 2025-03-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 44 | 1 | 1 | ## Actions (41) - 2025-04-22: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 188 - 2025-04-07: Passed Enrolled (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Third Reading Passed (138-0) (House) - 2025-04-07: Conference Committee Report {123627/1 Adopted (House) - 2025-04-07: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate) - 2025-04-07: Conference Committee Report {123627/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2025-04-03: House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Williams, Phillips and Schmidt) (Senate) - 2025-04-03: House Refuses Recede (Senate) - 2025-04-03: House Conference Committee Appointed (Delegates Williams, Phillips and Schmidt) (House) - 2025-04-03: House Refuses Recede (House) - 2025-04-03: Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Sydnor, McKay and Charles) (House) - 2025-04-03: Senate Requests House Recede (House) - 2025-04-03: Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments (House) - 2025-04-03: Senate Conference Committee Appointed (Senators Sydnor, McKay and Charles) (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Senate Requests House Recede (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Senate Refuses Concur House Amendments (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Third Reading Passed (136-0) (House) - 2025-03-31: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House) - 2025-03-31: Favorable with Amendments {893028/1 Adopted (House) - 2025-03-31: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judiciary (House) - 2025-03-19: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2025-03-13: Referred Judiciary (House) - 2025-03-13: Third Reading Passed (44-1) (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Floor Amendment {263426/1 (Senator Jennings) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Motion Returned Second Reading (Senator Jennings) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Floor Amendment {213122/1 (Senator Attar) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Motion Special Order until Later Today (Senator Attar) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Floor Amendment {753728/1 (Senator Salling) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Motion Special Order until Later Today (Senator Salling) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Floor Amendment {383727/1 (Senator Lewis Young) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Floor Amendment {503224/1 (Senator Ready) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Floor Amendment {113226/1 (Senator A. Washington) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Motion Special Order until Later Today (Senator A. Washington) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Floor Amendment {373620/1 (Senator Charles) Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Favorable with Amendments {533228/1 Adopted (Senate) - 2025-03-12: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate) - 2025-01-09: Hearing 1/21 at 2:30 p.m. (Senate) - 2025-01-08: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate) - 2024-09-20: Pre-filed (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2025-04-22: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_188_sb0046e.pdf) - Enrolled, 2025-04-07: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0046e.pdf) - Third Reading, 2025-03-12: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0046t.pdf) - First Reading, 2025-01-08: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0046f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions (vetoed) - HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination Review Process (vetoed) - HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed) - SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established (vetoed) - HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization (became law) - HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard (signed) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/Chapters_noln/CH_188_sb0046e.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0046e.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0046t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0046f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0227: Workers' Compensation - Payment From Uninsured Employers' Fund - Revisions](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0227-2025RS) - [HB 0482: Occupational Licensing and Certification - Criminal History - Predetermination…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0482-2025RS) - [HB 0384: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0384-2025RS) - [SB 0157: Maryland Disability Service Animal Program - Established](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0157-2025RS) - [HB 1294: Commercial Law - Credit Regulation - Earned Wage Access and Credit Modernization](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB1294-2025RS) - [HB 0228: Maryland Veterans Trust – Assistance to Members of the Maryland National Guard](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0228-2025RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0046-2025RS (as of 2026-10-19).