City Council Committee Reviews Sweeping Zoning Reform Bill Today

Controversial Housing Bill Faces Committee Scrutiny

Today, Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Baltimore City Council moves forward with one of its most debated legislative items of the year. Council Bill 25-0066, commonly known as the zoning deregulation or "four-plex" bill, is scheduled for committee review following a week of intense public pressure and community demonstrations at City Hall. The legislation, backed by Mayor Brandon Scott and Council President Zeke Cohen, seeks to eliminate single-family-only zoning requirements across the city, allowing property owners to convert or replace existing homes with up to four residential units without requiring individual Board of Zoning Appeals approval.

While advocates argue the measure is a necessary step to address housing affordability and attract new residents, it has faced significant pushback from community leaders. Earlier this week, West Baltimore faith leaders joined several council members to denounce the bill, expressing concerns that the deregulation could lead to neighborhood destabilization and displacement of "legacy residents." Opponents have called for an equity study and a more detailed fiscal analysis before the bill moves toward a final vote. The outcome of today's committee discussions will determine if amendments will be added to provide rent caps or other safeguards requested by neighborhood associations.

Public Schools Host Budget Engagement Session

In addition to the legislative activity at City Hall, Baltimore City Public Schools is hosting a critical outreach event this evening. The district will hold a Multilingual Family Session from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Wolfe Street Academy. This session is part of the ongoing FY2027 budget development process, aimed at gathering input from the city's diverse stakeholder groups.

• Location: 245 S. Wolfe Street, Baltimore.
• Focus: Financial planning for the upcoming school year, including investments in literacy, equity, and student wholeness.
• Impact: Feedback from these sessions will directly inform the district’s funding priorities before the budget is presented to the Board of School Commissioners later this month.

Property Tax Relief Initiatives Under Discussion

Today also marks a pivotal moment for the Mayor’s recently announced tax relief strategy. Following the official announcement earlier this week, city officials are beginning to draft the formal proposals for the Board of Estimates. The plan includes a three-part strategy to lower the effective property tax rate below $2.00 for most homeowners by adjusting the Homestead Tax Credit cap from 4% to 6% and expanding the Targeted Homeowners Tax Credit. These adjustments are expected to be a major theme in upcoming budget sessions as the city looks toward the 2027 fiscal year.