Legislative Accomplishments

Action	Benefit
Passed Mandatory Semi-Annual Property Tax Bill (1999)	Saves an average of $800 at the closing cost table for home buyers, and gives home sellers an average rebate of $800 from their mortgage escrow accounts.
Passed Agency Legislation. (1998)	Creates a more natural relationship between consumers and agents. Defines duties of agents in the statutory law for the first time. Helps reduce litigation keeping agents and consumers out of court saving thousands of dollars for the industry.
Lowered closing costs for 1st time Maryland homebuyers (1995)	Makes more buyers eligible to purchase a home, creating thousands of dollars in extra commissions for Maryland REALTORS®. For every $1,000 reduction in closing costs, 3,000 more Marylanders qualify to purchase homes.
Passed Mandatory Property Disclosure Form (1994	Places greater responsibility on the home owner to disclose material facts, rather than the real estate agent and broker, saving agents and brokers from frivolous litigation against them.
Passed Commercial Lien Legislation (1994)	Gives real estate agents and brokers the right to place a lien on commercial leases when a dispute over commission arises.
Passed Changes to the Homeowner Tax Credit Program (2000)	The Tax Credit applies to very low income individuals, and this change allows the credit to be applied before closing instead of after closing. Results in an average of $680 savings in closing costs.
Passed legislation on late fees in commercial leases. (2000)	4The Maryland Court of Appeals issued a decision that called into question the validity of late fees on commercial leases. Legislation before the General Assembly would have capped all late fees at no more than 10%. MAR worked to preserve the right to negotiate any late fee rate in commercial leases.

Defeated introduction of Governor's Septic Legislation. (2000)	Would have imposed costs of up to $7,000 on septic tanks. Much of this cost would not have been known until settlement occurred.
Defeated tax increase on Real Estate Commissions. (1997)	Saves a REALTOR® with $30,000 in annual commissions $120 a year.
Defeated legislation that would have tripled many business telephone rates. (1996)	Saves a REALTOR® with $50/month telephone bill, $1,200 annually.
Defeated airport disclosure bill. (1998)	Would have required all brokers and agents throughout the state to disclose the location of airports within five miles of a property for sale.
Defeated Sewage Sludge disclosure bill. (2000)	Would have required all brokers and agents throughout the state to disclose whether sewer sludge had been applied to properties adjacent to homes for sale.
Defeated mandatory Section 8 Vouchers (1997)	Would have mandated Maryland landlords to accept voluntary Section 8 vouchers.
Defeated Cell Phone Legislation (2000)	Would have prohibited anyone, including real estate agents, from using a cell phone while driving their car, unless the cell phone was hands-free.
Defeated Legislation on transfer taxes for Code Counties (2000)	Would have given certain "Code counties" authority to double their transfer tax rates.
Turned back efforts on garage door disclosure. (1999)	Stopped legislation from being introduced that would have required all brokers and agents to disclose whether garage door openers could automatically retract.