A controversial bill that could have increased tax sale foreclosures and evictions over water bill problems failed to pass last night on the last day of the legislative session.

HB 243 was originally intended to extend Baltimore City’s current tax sale protections to properties statewide. But the bill was amended to remove key protections for renters and other low-income households with tangled titles and misclassified properties that could have led to families losing their homes over unpaid water bills. In doing so, the bill would have gutted the Water Taxpayer Protection Act in 2019, which ensures that no home would be sent to tax sale for water bills

In response, Food & Water Watch Southern Region Director Jorge Aguilar released the following statement:

“No one should ever lose their family home or face eviction over a water bill. It was astonishing to see lawmakers attach amendments to housing protection legislation in order to boost the interests of the tax sales industry over the well-being of the people of Maryland. The defeat of this problematic bill is a testament to the social justice and community advocates who mobilized to defend the interests of working families across our state. 

“We should never allow those that profit from the misfortune of others to write the laws about tax sale foreclosure and water billing. We look forward to working with legislators next year to extend the same protections that Baltimore City families have to families across the state and ensure that no Marylander loses their home over water bills.”

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