Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order Tuesday aimed at speeding up housing construction and expanding housing availability.

The order, titled Housing Starts Here, directs all state agencies that issue housing-related permits to assign senior permit coordinators and strengthen their review procedures by early next year.

Agencies must also digitize all permit applications and fee payments by March, and "reduce processing times and increase transparency whenever possible."

The Department of Housing and Community Development will appoint an ombudsman to serve as a liaison between the state government and permit seekers.

Moore said the changes are meant to cut through bureaucracy and make it easier to build new housing.

Maryland's housing efforts

Maryland leaders have made hou

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