The work of DHCD and affordable housing practitioners is essential to address these housing needs. DHCD currently has 70+ affordable housing projects in its funding pipeline. The state is a critical partner on these projects, and this budget decision will determine how many of these projects are able to move forward.
Author: Carrie Kisicki
Testimony: Support for the 2026 Maryland Housing and Transit Opportunity Act (TOD Bill)
Transit-oriented development (TOD) plays a critical role in addressing two key Maryland challenges: housing and transportation. Workers and families benefit from expanded transportation and housing options and greater affordability through TOD.
Testimony: Support for Transportation Investment Priorities Act of 2026 (MD)
SB 62 will ensure Maryland’s transportation investments are aligned with state policy goals and that funding decisions are transparent and data driven.
Testimony: Support for DHCD Operating Budget Request (MD)
We urge you to support DHCD’s operating funding requests. Montgomery County and Prince George’s County are each facing housing shortages that disproportionately harm low-income households. To meet the urgency and scale of our housing need, DHCD and practitioners must be fully supported and able to operate at full capacity.
Testimony: Support for Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2026 (MD)
The Transportation and Climate Alignment Act would advance cleaner and more affordable transportation options, while making smart use of our limited public dollars. SB 59 provides a toolkit to evaluate planned transportation investments early on, and, if needed, make improvements to them by giving communities more options to connect residents to jobs and services than driving, while providing accountability on the state’s climate goals.
Testimony: Support for 2026 Maryland Housing Certainty Act
The Maryland Housing Certainty Act will help reduce the uncertainty around changing land use regulations. While revising and updating land use regulations is an ongoing process, a proposal should have certainty that upon completing an application, the rules will not change.
Testimony: Support for SB 457 / HB 1081 — Authority of Counties to Establish Subclasses and Set Separate Rates for Land and Improvements to Land (Land Value Tax)
Split-rate taxes on land and improvements allow governments to properly align tax incentives with desirable outcomes, encouraging development that will deliver on the vision of local master plans, provide community benefits, and generate its fair share of the revenue needed to support public infrastructure.
Testimony: Support for WMATA Operating and Capital Budget (MD)
The Coalition for Smarter Growth strongly supports funding for WMATA. We support the proposed governor’s allowance with amendments that the State of Maryland provide full operating funding contribution identified by WMATA in its proposed FY27 budget, and, starting in FY28, the DMVMoves capital funding increase of $152M per year.
Testimony: Support for Board of Public Works Contract Review – Climate and Sustainability Information (MD)
The Coalition for Smarter Growth supports SB116 Board of Public Works, Contract Review, Climate & Sustainability Information.
SB116 will ensure that Maryland’s capital investment and procurement decisions are informed by how well they support the state’s climate change goals.
Testimony: Support for Vulnerable Road User Protection Act of 2026 (MD)
The Vulnerable Road User Protection Act will provide a needed data-driven approach to safety that aligns with Maryland’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminate traffic deaths. A quarter of Maryland traffic deaths involved people walking or biking.