Bill 38-26 Housing Discrimination

Community Action Board representative said many apartment complexes won't rent to undocumented residents and the bill adds a needed layer of protection.

CASA housing attorney shared a client whose landlord threatened deportation over repair complaints, and asked for amendments shortening the 30-day detention trigger and extending lease-break rights to families of incarcerated people.

Rockville council member and Housing Opportunities Commission commissioner urged passage, calling the bill a model for other local governments.

Bethesda retiree supported the bill based on his family's immigrant history and Jewish values, asking the Council to also bar landlords from asking about immigration status at application.

Renters Alliance outreach coordinator supported the ban on immigration-status discrimination and the lease termination provision.

Housing Justice Montgomery member from a mixed-status household supported the bill and asked the county to also expand rental assistance programs for affected families.

Realtor supported the bill but pressed for an amendment making it a violation to even inquire about citizenship status during the application process, not just to discriminate.

Apartment and Office Building Association representative submitted informational testimony, asking how landlords could practically verify a tenant's deportation or detention status.

African Communities Together organizer described clients denied housing over immigration status and the fear created by the end of Temporary Protected Status.