MD HB213 | 2026 | Regular Session

Maryland House Bill 213

Note: Carry Over of previous HB392

Status

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: Introduced on January 14 2026 - 25% progression
Action: 2026-01-29 - Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m.
Pending: House Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Summary

Providing that it is lawful for a person to intercept an oral communication if the person is working as a fair housing tester for a fair housing testing program operated by the federal government, the State, a local government, or a nonprofit civil rights organization under certain circumstances; and providing that the contents of an intercepted oral communication may be used only for the purpose of enforcing federal, State, or local fair housing laws.

Title

Evidence – Interception of Oral Communications – Fair Housing Testing

History

Date	Chamber	Action
2026-01-29	House	Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m.
2026-01-14	House	First Reading Judiciary
2025-10-23	House	Pre-filed

Same As/Similar To

SB180 (Crossfiled) 2026-04-13 - Third Reading Passed with Amendments (113-19)
HB392 (Carry Over) 2025-01-17 - Hearing 2/04 at 1:00 p.m.

Subjects

Administrative Agencies
Civil Rights and Social Equity
Claims
Communications
complaints
Counties
Courts and Court Personnel - Statewide
Evidence
Federal Government
General Assembly
Housing
Housing and Community Development
Investigations and Inquiries
Municipal Corporations
Nonprofit Organizations
Surveillance
Work, Labor, and Employment

Code Citations

Chapter	Article	Section	Citation Type	Statute Text
Courts and Judicial Proceedings	10	401	(n/a)	See Bill Text
Courts and Judicial Proceedings	10	402	(n/a)	See Bill Text

Maryland State Sources

Type	Source
Summary	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0213?ys=2026RS
Text	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0213f.pdf
Supplement	https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/Pubs/BudgetFiscal/2026RS-HB0213-REIN.pdf