MD SB274

Authorizes the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt regulations for affirmatively furthering fair housing requirements applicable to political subdivisions and housing authorities

Establishes that housing discrimination violations can occur regardless of intent, allowing claims based on discriminatory effect alone

Defines "discriminatory effect" as actions that actually or predictably have disparate impact on protected groups or create, increase, reinforce, or perpetuate segregated housing patterns based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, source of income, or military status

Creates an affirmative defense where a person has not violated the law if the action lacked discriminatory intent, was necessary to achieve substantial legitimate nondiscriminatory interests, and could not have been achieved through less discriminatory means

Takes effect October 1, 2026