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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland updates residential real estate contract contingencies and trust money return timelines
Last action · May 26, 2026: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 716Sponsor: Mike McKay
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What This Bill Does
Maryland redefines s in residential real estate contracts and speeds up the timeline for escrow agents or brokers to return to buyers when contracts are terminated, taking effect October 1, 2026.
Changes the legal framework governing property deposits, determining how quickly a buyer recovers earnest money and what dispute steps a seller must take.
- Senate Bill 691 was enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland and approved by Governor Wes Moore on May 26, 2026. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
purchasers
Purchasers gain a shortened, clearer timeline for the return of trust money when terminating a residential real estate contract under a contingency clause.
sellers
Sellers must provide court complaints or mediation requests within 10 days of a buyer's trust money refund request to prevent the escrow agent from releasing the funds.
holders of trust money
Escrow agents and licensed real estate brokers must follow revised distribution timelines and are protected from liability for compliant distributions.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a homebuyer do to request the return of trust money after terminating a contract?
How long does a seller have to contest a trust money return request?
When must trust money be returned to the buyer if the seller takes no action?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
12 actions- May 26, 2026Governor of MarylandEnrolledApproved by the Governor - Chapter 716
- Apr 9, 2026SenateFloorReturned Passed
- Apr 8, 2026HouseFloorThird Reading Passed (129-0)
- Apr 8, 2026HouseFloorFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
- Apr 8, 2026HouseCommitteeFavorable Report by Economic Matters
- Mar 21, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Economic Matters
Show 6 earlier actions
- Mar 20, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (42-0)
- Mar 19, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed
- Mar 19, 2026SenateFloorFavorable Adopted
- Mar 19, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable Report by Judicial Proceedings
- Feb 12, 2026SenateHearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Judicial Proceedings
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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