Marvin E. Holmes, Jr.

Marvin Earl Holmes Jr. (born November 27, 1948) is an American politician. He is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 23B in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Early life and career Holmes was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 28, 1948. He graduated from Max S. Hayes Vocational School and later attended Tuskegee University, concentrating in engineering. Holmes served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1970 until 1974 where he earned a Commendation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He was a member of the presidential honor guard and a search and rescue air crewman.

In the legislature

Holmes was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 8, 2003. He was defeated in the Democratic primary by Jolene Ivey on August 6, 2024.

Committee assignments Vice-Chair, Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2020–present Member, Environment and Transportation Committee, 2015–present (natural resources, agriculture & open space subcommittee, 2015–2018; land use & ethics subcommittee, 2015–present; chair, housing & real property subcommittee, 2015–present) Member, Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2015–present Member, Environmental Matters Committee, 2003–2015 Deputy Majority Whip, 2006–2010 Member, Joint Legislative Work Group to Study State, County and Municipal Fiscal Relationships, 2009–2010 Vice-Chair, House Emergency Medical Services Work Group, 2009–2012 Member, Business Climate Work Group, 2013–2014 House Chair, Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 2015–2017

Other memberships 2nd Vice-Chair, Prince George's County Delegation, 2003–2010 (vice-chair, 2017; law enforcement & state-appointed boards committee, 2008, 2015–2016; washington suburban sanitary commission committee, 2008–2012; vice-chair, bi-county committee, 2018–present, member, 2003–2007, 2013–2014) Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 2003–present (historian, 2011–2012) Member, Maryland Green Caucus, 2003–present Member, Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2005–present Chair, Democratic Party Caucus, 2011–2015 Member, National Conference of State Legislatures (legislative effectiveness & state government committee, 2005–2007; legislative effectiveness committee, 2007–present)

Political positions Housing In April 2022, a law which Holmes co-sponsored, House Bill 107, which mandated that condominiums, housing associations, cooperatives, and homeowner associations complete a reserve study by October 1, 2023, passed both houses of the Maryland General Assembly. It went into effect in October 2023 and impacted condominium owners in Ocean City, Maryland and across Maryland, with unit owners facing "five-to-six digit bills over the next few years" to meet the law's deadlines which require a reserve fund for repairs and maintenance.

In October 2021, Holmes described reserve studies as necessary because of complaints by association members that they are hit with huge special assessments because there aren't "enough funds in their reserve accounts" and argued that the bill would "help protect against those scenarios". Holmes has been described as a "staunch supporter" of greater oversight of HOAs and condo associations and a "housing guru" in the Maryland General Assembly.

Previously, the Maryland General Assembly failed to adopt statewide legislation mandating reserve studies, but adopted similar legislation for Prince George's County in 2020 and Montgomery County in 2021. Holmes also helped write those reserve studies laws.

In November 2024, Holmes stated that many underestimate how much living in a common ownership community costs, and noted that he would sponsor legislation in the 2025 legislative session that would "establish a statewide commission for common ownership communities," and that he would reintroduce a bill which sets "licensing standards for property managers." It was also noted that Holmes' previous attempts to pass legislation establishing "bill of rights" for residents of common ownership communities had "failed three times in as many sessions."

In 2025, he sponsored a bill, along with Nick Allen, Linda Foley, Wayne A. Hartman, Denise Roberts, and Regina T. Boyce, revising the 2023 mandate for funding of reserve studies and preparation of funding plans by housing cooperatives, condominiums, and homeowners associations. He worked with Community Associations Institute on the bill's introduction.

National politics Following the 2021 United States Capitol attack, Holmes compared Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, stating "What's going on, unfortunately, is the start of anarchy proposed and accelerated by Trump. We only need to look at how Hitler came into power by chipping away at a society by having others enacting his dominance. It's similar to how slavery became law; one statute at a time by those that have power, in an attempt to increase the powerlessness of those that they wish to dominate."

Social issues In 2012, Holmes voted against legislation to expand gambling in Maryland; the bill passed the House of Delegates by a vote of 71-58 and was signed into law on August 15, 2012.

Holmes introduced legislation during the 2019 legislative session to lower the state's lead exposure threshold from 10 to 5 micrograms per deciliter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's reference level that demonstrates elevated lead levels in children. The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan on April 30, 2019.

Taxes In 2012, Holmes voted for legislation to raise the state's fuel tax to replenish the state's transportation fund.

Personal life Holmes is married and has four daughters. He attends religious services at the Greater Mt. Nebo African Methodist Church in Bowie, Maryland.

Electoral history