Maryland House passes moratorium on selling homes for unpaid water bills

Marylanders who fall behind on their water bills would get a year's reprieve from the threat of having their homes sold under legislation passed by the House of Delegates Saturday.

The 125-12 vote sends the measure to the state Senate.

The bill, sponsored by Del. Mary Washington, would apply statewide but have a significant impact in Baltimore. It would put a yearlong moratorium on the practice of selling people's homes when they fail to pay their water bills.

A related bill that also passed Saturday would launch a task force to study ways of enforcing water charges without seizing homes.

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-water-liens-20170318-story.html