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Maryland Senate OKs ban on housing income discrimination

Posted at 8:16 PM, Feb 23, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-23 20:18:26-05

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Maryland Senate has passed a measure that would ban landlords from discriminating against potential tenants, based on their source of income.

The Senate approved the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act on a 34-12 vote Friday. A similar bill is pending in the House.

The measure would prohibit discriminatory practices against tenants who use government assistance to pay rent.

Current law prohibits housing discrimination due to race, sex, color, religion or national origin. The law also prevents housing discrimination due to sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. But there is no law barring rental based on source of income.