Bill 41-26

Testifying for County Executive Elrich, he urged keeping the owner-occupancy requirement with only a limited temporary waiver, warning investors could buy homes as dual rentals.

The Somerset town council president warned removing owner-occupancy turns ADU homes into absentee two-unit investment properties and squeezes out first-time buyers.

For the Civic Federation, she cited the 2019 promise of 'no absentee landlords' and urged the council to reject the bill and fund ADU construction incentives instead.

She supported the bill but urged going further: drop the two-adult limit, create pre-approved ADU plans, and block HOA bans on ADUs.

Representing Friendship Heights communities, she cited a Philadelphia Fed study showing investors raise rents faster and outbid families, urging the requirement be kept.

The Greater Greater Washington policy director strongly supported removal, noting House Bill 1466 requires Maryland jurisdictions to ease ADU restrictions.

A Montgomery for All advocate called ADUs a practical affordability tool, drawing on his own experience living in one during the pandemic.