# Maryland SB 0937: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)

Maryland SB 0937, Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act), is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Shaneka Henson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 752) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0937-2026RS
- 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 0937
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Prospective Tenant Criminal History Records Check (Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act)
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-06
- Last action: 2026-05-26, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 752
- Sponsor: Shaneka Henson (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Real Property, Commercial Law - Consumer Protection, Abduction, Advertising, Age -see also- Age of Maj; Children; Elderly; Inf&Tod.; etc, Appeals -see also- Judicial Review, Applicants and Applications, Arson, Assault, Attorney General, Burglary, Children (4-12), Civil Offenses, Committees and Commissions, Complaints, Controlled Dangerous Substances -see also- Drugs; Opioids, Counties -see also- Chartered Counties; Code Counties; etc., Crimes and Punishments -see also- Penalties and Sentnc; etc., Criminal Background Investigations, Data -see also- Census; Demographics, Demographics -see also- Census; Data, Disclosure, Discrimination, Electronic Government, Evidence, Ex-Offenders, Federal Government, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Fines -see also- Penalties and Sentences, Forms, Fraud -see also- Forgery, Gender -see also- Women, Housing and Community Development, Department of, Housing -see also- Apartments; Condos; Mobile & Manuf Homes, Human Trafficking, Internet -see also- Internet Access, Interstate Affairs, Landlords and Tenants, Laws and Ordinances -see also- Pub Local Laws; Uniform Laws, Leases and Rent, Murder -see also- Homicide; Manslalughter, Notices, Open Government, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Perjury, Pornography -see also- Nudity and Sexual Displays; Obscenity, Privacy, Racial Matters -see also- Ethnic Affairs; Minorities, Records -see also- Land Records; Vital Records, Registration -see also- Motor Vehicle Registration, Residential Property -see also- Apartments; Condominiums, Rules and Regulations, Safety -see also- Occupational Safety, Sexual Offenses, Standards and Best Practices, Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports, Time, Transfer of Goods -see also- Goods&Svc; Leas&Rnt; RetailSale, Unfair Trade Practices
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (194 yes, 160 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- New fair chance screening for renters: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, covered landlords cannot ask about your criminal history before a conditional offer. They may screen early only for very serious crimes listed in the law, like murder, certain sex offenses, child pornography, human trafficking, meth making on federally assisted property,…
- Your rights after a rental offer: benefit, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, after a conditional offer, covered landlords may consider only certain convictions within 5 years or other listed crimes to withdraw the offer. They may withdraw only to meet a substantial, legitimate, nondiscriminatory interest and must give you written reasons. You can…
- Which landlords are covered and penalties: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, these rules apply to landlords that own or manage five or more rental units, including through entities. Owner‑occupied rentals are excluded. The housing department must adopt regulations to carry out the law. Violations can bring civil penalties up to $500 per violation.…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Shaneka Henson (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Floor Amendment {223521/1 (Delegate Schmidt) Rejected | fail | 34 | 101 | 5 |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed with Amendments | pass | 97 | 36 | 7 |
| 2026-04-13 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 31 | 13 | 3 |
| 2026-03-23 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 32 | 10 | 1 |

## Actions (22)

- 2026-05-26: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 752
- 2026-04-13: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (31-13) (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed with Amendments (97-36) (House)
- 2026-04-13: Floor Amendment {223521/1 (Delegate Schmidt) Rejected (34-101) (House)
- 2026-04-13: Floor Amendment {963321/1 (Delegate Charkoudian) Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-11: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable with Amendments {743728/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing 4/02 at 2:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing 4/02 at 1:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-03-26: Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-24: Referred Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-03-23: Third Reading Passed (32-10) (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments {973928/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-20: Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Hearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: First Reading Judicial Proceedings (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-26: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_752_sb0937e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-13: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0937e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-20: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0937t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-02-06: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0937f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_752_sb0937e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0937e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0937t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0937f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [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-SB0937-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).