Governor Wes Moore’s ambitious housing legislation—originally titled the “Housing for Jobs Act”—was meant to be a transformative step toward solving Maryland’s housing shortage.
But after intense pushback from local governments, the bill was stripped of its core provisions in the House and rebranded as the “Housing Development Act.” What remains is a watered-down version that sets 10-year housing targets and offers limited accountability.
The original bill aimed to expedite housing development in areas with job-housing imbalances by requiring counties to approve qualifying projects. Yet local officials, particularly through the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), pushed back hard, objecting to any loss of control—even in the face of Maryland’s growing housing deficit.
This resistance reflects a troubling pattern: local governments often stall or dilute statewide efforts to address housing affordability, prioritizing autonomy over urgent public need. The amended bill now allows jurisdictions to set their own targets, but without strong enforcement mechanisms, it risks becoming another symbolic gesture.
Maryland’s housing crisis is real, and it’s growing. If local governments continue to resist meaningful reform, they will bear responsibility for worsening affordability and deepening inequality.
Read more about the fate of the Housing for Jobs Act at Maryland Matters: Moore’s remodeled housing bill approved by House; still needs Senate consideration – Maryland Matters