2026-09-12 · Maryland · Legislation · Did not pass

What happened. A transparency package for Maryland's larger homeowners associations — mandatory online document portals, electronic meeting notice, and a new power to borrow against reserve obligations — failed in both chambers without a committee vote.

SB 919 got a first reading in Senate Judicial Proceedings on 6 February 2026 and a hearing on 11 March; that is the last recorded action. Its cross-file HB 1600 was first-read in House Rules and Executive Nominations on 16 February and was never referred to a standing committee at all — no hearing, no fiscal note. Both died at sine die on 13 April 2026.¹²

What it would have required

From the fiscal note and the bills' synopses:³

The portal, for associations of at least 100 lots. Specified documents would have had to be posted on the association's website, portal or app within 30 days of creation or receipt. An association without one would have had to develop one, on a statutory compliance timeline. The documents: the declaration and all amendments; the bylaws and all amendments; the articles of incorporation or other formation documents and each amendment; the association's policies, rules and regulations; and the approved minutes of all open board meetings.

Borrowing for reserves. The governing body could have secured a line of credit to fund statutorily required reserves, on a vote of at least 51 percent of lot owners in good standing.

Electronic notice. Meeting notice or information could have been delivered by electronic transmission where conditions were met — the House synopsis specifying 14 days before the meeting.

Recordings as records. Recordings of meetings held by telephone, video conference or similar means would have been kept as an official record of the association.

The Department of Legislative Services found no state or local fiscal effect and no small-business effect.

1. Senate Bill 919 (2026), Homeowners Associations – Reserve Funding, Meeting Notices, Voting, and Records — first reading in Senate Judicial Proceedings 6 February 2026, hearing 11 March, no committee report, died at sine die ↩
2. House Bill 1600 (2026) — the cross-file; first reading in House Rules and Executive Nominations 16 February 2026, never referred to a standing committee, no hearing, no fiscal note ↩
3. Department of Legislative Services fiscal and policy note, SB 919 (2026) — the 100-lot threshold, the 30-day posting requirement, the enumerated documents, the 51 percent vote for a reserve line of credit, and the electronic-notice provision ↩
4. Prince George's County Council Resolution CR-005-2026 — Common Ownership Communities Program rules and regulations, adopted and effective 17 March 2026: owners-only portal, annual contract circulation, ten-cents-per-page copying cap, and fines up to $5,000 ↩