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*hb0989*
HOUSE BILL 989
O2, O1, Q7 6lr3033
By: Delegates Lopez, Kaufman, and Wims Wims, Alston, Bagnall , Cullison,
Guzzone, Hill, Hutchinson, Kipke, Martinez, Reilly, Rosenberg, Ross,
White Holland, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Health and Ways and Means
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 10, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
State Assistance for the Elderly – Study on Calculation of Income 2
FOR the purpose of providing that certain rental income may not be included in the 3
calculation of income for purposes of eligibility for any State tax credit, housing 4
assistance program, or medical assistance program; requiring the Department of 5
Aging to review each State tax credit, housing assistance program, and medical 6
assistance program and determ ine whether this Act is applicable; requiring the 7
Department to notify certain units of State government of the requirements of this 8
Act; and generally relating to the calculation of income for State tax credits, housing 9
assistance programs, or medical ass istance programs requiring the Department of 10
Aging, in consultation with the Department of Disabilities, the Department of 11
Health, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the 12
Department of Human Services, to conduct a certain study on the calculation of 13
income for certain housing assistance programs and medical assistance programs; 14
and generally relating to a study on the calculation of income for State housing 15
assistance programs and medical assistance programs. 16
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 17
Article – Human Services 18
Section 10–101(a) and (e) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21
2 HOUSE BILL 989
BY adding to 1
Article – Human Services 2
Section 10–215 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 7
Article – Human Services 8
10–101. 9
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 10
(e) “Department” means the Department of Aging. 11
10–215. 12
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO ANY STATE TAX CREDIT , HOUSING 13
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT: 14
(1) IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS; AND 15
(2) LIMITS ELIGIBILITY TO INDIVIDUALS WITH LESS THAN A CERTAIN 16
AMOUNT OF INCOME. 17
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, THE CALCULATION 18
OF INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF ELIGIBILITY FOR ANY STATE TAX CREDIT, HOUSING 19
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM , OR MEDICAL ASSISTANC E PROGRAM MAY NOT IN CLUDE 20
INCOME THAT AN INDIVIDUAL RECEIVES FROM RENTING A PORTI ON OF THE 21
INDIVIDUAL’S PRIMARY RESIDENCE. 22
(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL: 23
(1) REVIEW EACH STATE TAX CREDIT , HOUSING ASSISTANCE 24
PROGRAM, AND MEDICAL ASSISTAN CE PROGRAM AND DETER MINE WHETHER THIS 25
SECTION APPLIES; AND 26
(2) IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT THIS SECTION APPLIES, 27
NOTIFY THE UNIT OF STATE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING THE 28
CREDIT OR PROGRAM OF THE LIMITATION ON THE CALCULATION OF INCOME UNDER 29
SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION. 30
HOUSE BILL 989 3
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That, on or before December 1, 2026, the Department of Aging shall: 2
(1) in consultation with the Department of Disabilities, the Department of 3
Health, the Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Department of 4
Human Services, study the implications of prohibiting State housing assistance programs 5
and State medical assistance programs designed to assist aged, blind, and disabled 6
individuals and that limit eligibility based on income from includi ng income that an 7
individual receives from renting a portion of the individual’s primary residence in the 8
calculation of income required for the program, including: 9
(i) identifying any barriers, including federal laws; 10
(ii) identifying necessary State resources; and 11
(iii) determining which State housing assistance programs and State 12
medical assistance programs such a prohibition could reasonably apply to, based on the 13
findings under items (i) and (ii) of this subsection; and 14
(2) report to th e Senate Finance Committee and the House Health 15
Committee, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State Government Article, on its findings 16
and recommendations. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 18
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of June 30, 2027, this 19
Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 20
further force and effect. 21
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.