SB 724 Maryland Senate · 2026 Regular Session

State Retirement and Pension System - Cost-of-Living Adjustments - Clarification

SB 724 clarifies how the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is calculated for determining cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Maryland state retirees. It specifies that the CPI value for October 2025 will be the average of the CPI for September and November 2025, used to set COLAs effective July 1, 2026, and July 1, 2027. This directly affects current and future retirees in the State Retirement and Pension System by standardizing the CPI calculation method for these specific years. The bill amends existing law to clarify the CPI definition and calculation process without changing the overall COLA structure.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 6, 2026 Signed Apr 14, 2026

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What changed between versions

First - State Retirement and Pension System - Cost-of-Living Adjustments - Clarification → Third - State Retirement and Pension System - Cost-of-Living Adjustments - Clarification · 6 edits

MODERATE

SB 724 was reclassified from a First Reading bill to an Emergency Bill that has been adopted by the Senate, indicating it has moved significantly further in the legislative process. The text of the bill itself remains substantively unchanged, preserving the original definitions for cost-of-living adjustments and the specific calculation method for the October 2025 Index Value.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the only alteration is its procedural status within the legislative workflow.

TIMELINE

The bill's header was updated to reflect its new status as an 'Emergency Bill' that has been 'Adopted' by the Senate and read for the second time, whereas it was previously only introduced and read for the first time.

TECHNICAL

A new line referencing 'CF HB 1138' was added to the header, likely indicating a companion bill or related legislative action.

Minor formatting adjustments were made to the bill title and article headers, replacing 'A BILL ENTITLED' with 'CHAPTER ______' and adjusting spacing in the Article title.

Additional explanatory text was inserted to clarify that underlining indicates amendments to the bill and strike-through indicates matter removed by amendment.

The asterisk identifier '*sb0724*' was removed from the header section.

Signature lines for the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Delegates were added at the end of the document, standardizing the final layout for an enacted bill.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 28, 2026

How they voted

46–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 49

Feb 20, 2026

D Democratic36

33 Yea 3

91% Yea

R Republican13

13 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 14, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 55

executive

Mar 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Returned Passed

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Adopted

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable Report by Appropriations

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Committee

Referred Appropriations

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Reading Passed

upper

Feb 28, 2026

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (131-0-11)

house of delegates

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Adopted

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable Report by Budget and Taxation

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (46-0-3)

senate

Feb 6, 2026

Committee

First Reading Budget and Taxation

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors