HB 801 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Financial Empowerment Center Network Pilot Program - Establishment

This bill establishes a 3-year pilot program creating regional financial counseling centers across Maryland. The centers will provide free, one-on-one assistance to residents on saving money, reducing debt, accessing banking services, and improving credit scores. All services must be offered in English and Spanish, with additional languages as required. Administered by the Comptroller’s office, the program runs from October 2025 through September 2028, with funding secured via state budget appropriations for fiscal years 2027-2028.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics: Audits & Accountability

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2025 Last action Mar 24, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Maryland Financial Empowerment Center Network Pilot Program - Establishment → Third - Maryland Financial Empowerment Center Network Pilot Program - Establishment · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill progressed from first reading to third reading with favorable committee approval and adoption by the House. The primary substantive changes involve formatting and line number updates, with no significant policy modifications to the Financial Empowerment Center Network Pilot Program's scope, funding, or requirements.

TECHNICAL

Added committee report status showing favorable review and House adoption with second reading date of March 1, 2025.

Updated line numbers and page headers throughout the document to reflect the bill's progression through the legislative process.

Added signature lines for Governor, Speaker of the House, and President of the Senate at the end of the document.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2025

How they voted

119–19

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 140

Mar 3, 2025

D Democratic101

101 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican39

18 Yea 19 Nay 2

48% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Referred Budget and Taxation

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Ways and Means

lower

Mar 3, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (119-19-2)

house of delegates

Jan 29, 2025

Committee

First Reading Ways and Means

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors