In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Affirmatively further fair housing” means to take meaningful actions, in addition to actions aimed at combating discrimination, to: overcome patterns of segregation; and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to housing and opportunity based on protected characteristics. “Affirmatively further fair housing” includes to take meaningful actions that, taken together: address significant disparities in housing needs and access to opportunity; replace segregated living patterns with truly integrated and balanced living patterns; transform racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty into areas of opportunity; and foster and maintain compliance with civil rights and fair housing laws. “Meaningful action” means a significant action that is designed and can be reasonably expected to achieve a material positive change by, for example, increasing fair housing choice or decreasing disparities in access to opportunity.

The Department: shall administer its programs and activities related to housing and community development to affirmatively further fair housing; shall explore ways to ensure it is collaborating with and supporting nonprofit and governmental entities devoted to furthering fair housing; and may not take any action that is materially inconsistent with the obligation to affirmatively further fair housing. The Department shall require political subdivisions and housing authorities to affirmatively further fair housing. To ensure that political subdivisions and housing authorities affirmatively further fair housing, the Department shall, in accordance with § 3–114(d)(2) of the Land Use Article, require a political subdivision or housing authority to submit an assessment of fair housing to the Department as part of the housing element of a comprehensive plan. This section does not: require a political subdivision or housing authority to take a specific action to affirmatively further fair housing; or prohibit a political subdivision or housing authority from taking a specific action to affirmatively further fair housing. The Department may adopt regulations to carry out this section.