“Give us amendments as soon as you can.”

A chairman doesn’t say that often.

But that was the case today on my bill requiring that people engaged in real estate wholesaling be licensed by the state.

I was prompted to introduce Houde Bill 301 after reading about the negative effect these individuals were having on Baltimore City neighborhoods.

I testified alongside a lobbyist for the Maryland Realtors.  He said that we would be offering amendments to House Bill 301.

I interpreted the chairman’s comments as indicating that he wanted to act favorably on an amended bill.

As we left the hearing room, several opponents to the bill spoke to us.

They raised concerns that we could not ignore.

The lobbyist drafted an amendment by late afternoon.

We shared it with the bill’s opponents and will get their reaction before we present it to the committee.

 

One of the articles that prompted me to introduce HB 301:

https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/investigations/bs-bz-baltimore-landlords-investor-homes-20221028-v5mmhm7aubbrbdw2zngmnjiuri-story.html