Protecting Families And Homeownership In The State Of Maryland
Governor Martin O’Malley signed the first bill of his new Administration and the first bill of the 2007 Legislative Session today to protect middle-class families and homeownership in the State of Maryland.
O’Malley was joined by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. and Speaker of the House of Delegates Michael E. Busch as he signed emergency legislation to prohibit the creation of new ground rents in the State of Maryland. Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown and Attorney General Doug Gansler attended the bill signing along with legislative leaders.
“Today, our state government is living up to its responsibility to advance the common good and protect our middle class families and homeowners,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “For too long this fundamentally unjust ground rent system has preyed on some of our most vulnerable neighbors, and today we are taking the first step to reform this antiquated system. I am proud to be a partner in this effort with President Miller, Speaker Busch and the entire General Assembly.”
Senate Bill 106 (cross-filled with House Bill 172) will prohibit the owner of a fee simple or leasehold estate in specified residential property from creating a reversionary interest in the property under a ground lease or a ground sublease. The law is retroactive to January 22, 2007. The law takes effect immediately.
In addition to this emergency legislation, Governor O’Malley is working with legislative leaders, including Senator George W. Della and Delegate Maggie L. McIntosh to reform and modernize existing ground rents in Maryland by adding new provisions to protect families from losing their homes and protect the property interests of ground rent owners.
O’Malley joined with lawmakers in February at the home of Vernon Onheiser in Baltimore City to announce the ground reforms that would create an online registry of ground rents and prohibit the use of ejectment as a remedy for nonpayment of existing ground rents. Mr. Onheier attended today’s bill signing.
Governor O’Malley also signed House Bill 60 today that would authorize specified electric cooperatives to supply their standard offer service load through a portfolio of blended wholesale supply contracts of short, medium, and long terms under specified circumstances.
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