In September 2025, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University released a policy brief titled, “Housing Reform in the States: A Menu of Options for 2026”.
Mercatus researchers Salim Furth, Emily Hamilton and Charles Gardner outline 18 actions state legislators can take to increase housing supply and lower housing costs. They include:
- Reducing regulatory overreach by allowing Accessory Dwelling Units, allowing housing in commercial zones and near transit, and reducing lot size and parking requirements.
- Streamlining housing permitting procedures
- Reforming and limiting allowable litigation over housing developments, and
- Allowing innovation in housing construction and design.
Read the full list of policy prescriptions at: Housing Reform in the States: A Menu of Options for 2026 | Mercatus Center or download the brief as a PDF.
Many of these ideas are already being discussed as possible legislation to be introduced the 2026 Maryland General Assembly session. You can follow the progress of these and other bills here at Open Doors.