UPDATE 3: The HOME Act has been signed into law.

UPDATE 2: Read Councilman Marks’ op-ed piece on the HOME Act here.

UPDATE: The Baltimore County Council has voted to approve the HOME Act.

Original story below…

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NOTTINGHAM, MD—Councilman David Marks on Friday said he would oppose County Executive Johnny Olszewski’s new HOME Act legislation.

Olszewski has announced plans to introduce the Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) Act, which would prohibit housing discrimination based on the source of a potential renter’s income, including housing vouchers.

The bill will be introduced in the County Council session scheduled for Monday, October 7, 2019.

Councilman Marks issued the following statement regarding the County Executive’s proposed “source of income” legislation:

“I will oppose this legislation, just as I voted against a nearly-identical bill in 2016. A healthy balance of rental and owner-occupied housing is natural in many communities.

“Unfortunately, this legislation will likely lead to a massive increase of rentals in neighborhoods such as Ridgeleigh, Belmont-Dunfield, and Seven Courts that are already nearing a tipping point. My vote will be ‘no’.”