Maryland 'Was Getting in the Way' of Affordable Housing, Governor Says in Signing New Laws

May 26, 2026 - 21:50

Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed a package of housing bills on Thursday aimed at clearing bureaucratic hurdles for new construction, particularly near public transit stations. The new laws are designed to fast-track thousands of housing units in areas with existing rail and bus infrastructure, a move the governor framed as a necessary correction to state policy.

"Too often, the state was getting in the way of its own people finding a place to live," Moore said at the signing ceremony. The legislation reduces local zoning restrictions near transit hubs and streamlines permitting for developers who commit to including affordable units. Proponents argue this will help ease a severe housing shortage that has driven up rents across the Baltimore-Washington corridor.

However, the package represents a scaled-back version of what housing advocates had hoped for. A more aggressive proposal that would have mandated statewide rent stabilization and required all new developments to include a fixed percentage of low-income units failed to pass the General Assembly this session. Critics of the stronger measures, including some suburban county leaders, argued they would overstep local control and discourage construction.

The signed laws focus instead on supply-side incentives. One measure creates a state fund to help developers cover infrastructure costs, while another allows duplexes and triplexes in single-family zones near transit stops. Moore acknowledged the compromises, stating the bills were "a first step, not the final word" on making Maryland more affordable. The new rules take effect in October, with the first wave of transit-oriented projects expected to break ground next year.