SB 651 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Real Property – Transfer–on–Death Deed – Establishment

SB 651 establishes a legal framework for "transfer-on-death deeds" in Maryland, allowing property owners to designate beneficiaries who automatically inherit real estate upon the owner's death without probate. The bill directly affects Maryland homeowners and their named beneficiaries, providing standardized forms for creating or revoking these deeds and exempting them from property transfer taxes. Key provisions simplify recording requirements (removing tax certification needs) and allow retroactive application to certain existing life estate deeds. This change streamlines property transfer, reduces administrative hurdles, and avoids court involvement for qualifying real estate.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Signed May 26, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - Real Property – Transfer–on–Death Deed – Establishment → Third - Real Property – Transfer–on–Death Deed – Establishment · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill update clarifies the scope of the Transfer-on-Death Deed Act to include life estate deeds with powers, ensuring they receive the same retroactive benefits as standard deeds. It also standardizes the legal citations across the bill and repeals specific tax-related sections to align with updated property transfer tax exemptions.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include life estate deeds with powers under the Transfer-on-Death Deed Act, whereas the previous version focused primarily on standard transfer-on-death deeds.

SCOPE

Added 'life estate deeds with powers' to the list of instruments covered by the Transfer-on-Death Deed Act, ensuring they are treated similarly to standard deeds for retroactive application.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of sponsoring Senators to include Charles, Folden, James, Love, McKay, Muse, Smith, Sydnor, Waldstreicher, and West.

Reorganized the bill text to move the repeal of tax sections (Article - Tax - Property) to the end of the document for better logical flow.

Corrected the citation for the repeal of Section 3-104 from the 'Real Property' article to the 'Estates and Trusts' article in the bill's introductory text.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that the tax endorsement and intake sheet requirements for recording deeds do not apply to Transfer-on-Death Deeds or their revocations.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House of Delegates Mar 26, 2026

How they voted

45–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 49

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic36

33 Yea 3

91% Yea

R Republican13

12 Yea 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 26, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 750

executive

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Judiciary

lower

Mar 26, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (134-0-8)

house of delegates

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Referred Judiciary

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (45-0-4)

senate

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

First Reading Judicial Proceedings

upper

11 primary · 0 co-sponsors