Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1547*
HOUSE BILL 1547
M3 6lr3515
CF SB 873
By: Delegate Rosenberg
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Economic Matters
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Environment – Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing – Modified Risk Reduction 2
Standard 3
FOR the purpose of altering the conditions under which an owner of affected property is 4
required to satisfy the modified risk reduction stand ard under certain provisions of 5
law relating to the reduction of lead risk in hous ing; and generally relating to the 6
reduction of lead risk in housing. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 8
Article – Environment 9
Section 6–819(a) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2013 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
Article – Environment 14
Section 6–819(c) 15
Annotated Code of Maryland 16
(2013 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
Article – Environment 20
6–819. 21
(a) The modified risk reduction standard shall consist of performing the following: 22
(1) Passing the test for lead –contaminated dust under § 6 –816 of this 23
subtitle; and 24
2 HOUSE BILL 1547
(2) Performing the following lead hazard reduction treatments: 1
(i) A visual review of all exterior and interior painted surfaces; 2
(ii) The removal and repainting of chipping, peeling, or flaking paint 3
on exterior and interior painted surfaces; 4
(iii) The repair of any structural defect that is causing the paint to 5
chip, peel, or flake, that the owner of the affected property has knowledge of or, with the 6
exercise of reasonable care, should have knowledge of; 7
(iv) Repainting, replacing, or encapsulating all interior lead –based 8
paint or untested painted windowsills with vinyl, metal, or any other material in a manner 9
and under conditions approved by the Department; 10
(v) Ensuring that caps of vinyl, aluminum, or any other material in 11
a manner and under conditions approved by the Department, are installed in all window 12
wells where lead–based paint or untested paint exists in order to make the window wells 13
smooth and cleanable; 14
(vi) Except for a treated or repla cement window that is free of 15
lead–based paint on its friction surfaces, fixing the top sash, subject to federal, State, or 16
local fire code standards, of all windows in place in order to eliminate the friction caused 17
by the movement of the top sash; 18
(vii) Rehanging all doors in order to prevent the rubbing together of a 19
lead–painted surface with another surface; 20
(viii) Ensuring that all kitchen and bathroom floors are overlaid with 21
a smooth, water–resistant covering; and 22
(ix) HEPA–vacuuming and washing with high phosphate detergent 23
or its equivalent, as determined by the Department, any area of the affected property where 24
repairs were made. 25
(c) (1) After February 23, 1996, an owner of an affected property shall satisfy 26
the modified risk reduction standard: 27
(i) Within 30 days after receipt of written notice that a person at 28
risk who resides in the property: 29
1. Has an elevated blood lead level documented by a test for 30
EBL greater than or equal to 15 µg/dl before February 24, 2006 or greater than or equal to 31
10 µg/dl between February 24, 2006 and June 30, 2020; or 32
HOUSE BILL 1547 3
2. Has an elevated blood lead level documented by a test for 1
elevated blood lead level greater than or equal to the reference level defined in § 6 –801(q) 2
of this title on or after July 1, 2020[, and an environmental investigation conducted under 3
§ 6–305 of this title has concluded that there is a defect at the affected property]; or 4
(ii) Within 30 days after receipt of written notice from the tenant, or 5
from any other source, of: 6
1. A defect; and 7
2. The existence of a person at risk in the affected property. 8
(2) (i) An owner who receives multiple notices of an elevated blood lead 9
level under this subsection or multiple notices of defect under subsection (d) of this section 10
may satisfy all such notices by subsequent compliance with the risk reduction measures 11
specified in subsection (a) of this section, as documented by satisfaction of subsection (f) or 12
(g) of this section, if the owner complies with the risk re duction measures specified in 13
subsection (a) of this section after the date of the test documenting the elevated blood lead 14
level or after the date the notices of defect were issued. 15
(ii) Subparagraph (i) of this paragraph does not affect an owner’s 16
obligation to perform the risk reduction measures specified in subsection (a) of this section 17
for a triggering event that occurs after the owner satisfies the provisions of subparagraph 18
(i) of this paragraph. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 20
October 1, 2026. 21