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Maryland Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 26,430 Active 12,181 In committee 12,181 Passed 3,693 Signed 7,929 Failed 2,304

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 764: Education - Minimum Wage for Education Support Professionals - Report on Estimated Cost

SB 764 establishes a minimum wage of $25.00 per hour for education support professionals in Maryland public schools, effective July 1, 2028. It directly affects county boards of education (which must pay this wage) and noncertificated school staff in non-supervisory bargaining units, such as aides, secretaries, and maintenance workers. The bill requires the State Department of Education to report by December 1, 2026, on the cost of implementing this wage, broken down by school system. It does not change current wages but mandates a new hourly rate for these positions starting in 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 952: Consumer Protection - Companion Chatbots - Regulation

HB 952 requires operators of "companion chatbots" (AI systems designed to meet social needs through human-like interactions) to establish safety protocols, including preventing harmful content like self-harm discussions and sexually explicit material for minors. Operators must publish these protocols online, display clear warnings that chatbots are AI (not human), and provide crisis resource referrals for users expressing suicidal thoughts. The bill also mandates that operators of chatbots used by minors display mandatory break reminders after 3 hours of continuous use. It excludes business customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants from these requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 97: State Designations - State Shark - Megalodon

HB 97 designates the extinct megalodon shark (Otodus megalodon) as Maryland's official state shark, symbolically recognizing its fossil history in the state. The bill amends Maryland law to state: "THE MEGALODON (OTODUS MEGALODON) IS THE STATE SHARK," referencing fossil evidence found in counties like Calvert and the Calvert Marine Museum's collection of over 1,700 megalodon teeth. It has no practical effect on living sharks, conservation, or state policy - only serving as a ceremonial designation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, after legislative approval. This is a purely symbolic measure with no direct impact on residents or regulations.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 83: Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act

HB 83, the Family and Law Enforcement Protection Act, modifies Maryland's domestic violence protective order process to strengthen firearm safety measures. The bill requires petitioners seeking protective orders to provide specific details about a respondent's firearms - including make, model, location, and whether stored in a vehicle - if the petition alleges abuse involving firearms. Judges must then order the respondent to surrender all firearms and firearm licenses in cases where abuse involved firearm use, threats with a firearm, or serious bodily harm (with or without firearm threat). This directly affects domestic violence victims and respondents in protective order cases, creating clearer mechanisms for law enforcement to enforce firearm surrender during temporary protective orders under Sections 4-504(e) and 4-505(a)(viii) of Maryland's Family Law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 34: Municipalities - Open Drainage Inlets - Inventory and Improvements (Mason's Law)

HB 34 requires Maryland municipalities to install approved grating systems on all open drainage inlets (with 12-inch or larger openings) that collect stormwater. These systems must prevent large debris entry while allowing water flow and be secured to prevent removal by floodwater or tools. The law applies to both new inlets (during construction) and existing inlets, mandating full installation by June 1, 2027. It directly affects all Maryland municipalities by requiring infrastructure upgrades to improve stormwater management and safety.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 159: Mail Theft

HB 159 proposes to amend Maryland law regarding mail theft by creating new prohibitions on stealing mail or packages under specific circumstances. The bill establishes two new sections (3-905 and 3-905.1) in the Criminal Law Article, defining prohibited acts and penalties for mail theft. It also clarifies that violations of these new provisions will be tried in District Court or Circuit Court, depending on the offense severity. This bill directly affects individuals who steal or possess stolen mail or packages, and it is currently pending in the Maryland General Assembly.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 279: Correctional Services - Medication Review Committee - Administration of Psychotropic Medication to an Incarcerated Individual

HB 279 establishes a medication review committee within Maryland's Department of Public Safety to evaluate requests for involuntary psychotropic medication when an incarcerated individual refuses it, applying only to licensed mental health infirmaries in state correctional facilities. The bill prohibits administering such medication without committee approval, except in emergencies, and requires the committee to review medical records, consider less restrictive alternatives, and ensure the individual understands risks and benefits before a decision. Incarcerated individuals gain specific rights under the bill, including 10 business days' written notice of committee meetings, the right to attend (excluding closed deliberations), present information, and receive details about their diagnosis and treatment options. The committee, composed of appointed mental health professionals and a lay advisor, must document its rationale and follow defined procedures before authorizing medication against an individual's refusal.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 382: Commercial Law - Broadband Access - Low-Income Consumer Programs (Maryland Broadband Opportunity and Fairness Act)

HB 382 (Maryland Broadband Opportunity and Fairness Act) requires broadband providers serving 10,000+ Maryland customers to establish low-cost internet programs by December 1, 2026. These programs must offer minimum speeds of 100/20 Mbps (for households of two or fewer) or 200/20 Mbps (for larger households), at least 1.2 terabytes of data, and low latency for eligible low-income consumers. Eligibility includes households meeting federal poverty guidelines (350% of federal poverty level), qualifying for SNAP/food assistance, Medicaid, or low-income energy programs. Providers may raise prices by no more than 2% annually with 30 days’ notice, and cannot require automatic payment plans for program enrollment.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 436: Anne Arundel County Board of Education - Member Compensation and Student Member Scholarship - Increase

HB 436 increases annual compensation for Anne Arundel County Board of Education members: the president’s pay rises from $17,000 to $25,000, the vice president’s from $16,000 to $24,000, and other members’ from $15,000 to $23,000. It also raises the scholarship for student board members completing a full term to $23,000 (up from $15,000) for terms beginning July 1, 2029, or later. The changes take effect October 1, 2026, and apply only to terms starting after that date, not retroactively. The bill modifies Maryland’s Education Article to implement these specific financial adjustments.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 412: Child Support - Suspension of Driver's Licenses

HB 412 changes Maryland law to require the Child Support Enforcement Administration to verify that a person intentionally withholding child support payments has the ability to pay before suspending their driver's license. It mandates written notice to the obligor (person owing support) about their right to request an investigation on specific grounds, including inaccurate debt amounts, the child living primarily with them, payment agreements, employment impact, or undue hardship due to disability. The bill adds a formal investigation process before license suspension can occur, requiring the Administration to review these grounds and provide a 20-day appeal window to the Office of Administrative Hearings. This affects individuals with outstanding child support debt who face potential license suspension.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 196: Public Health - Baby Food Testing and Labeling - Requirements

HB 196 amends Maryland's definition of "baby food" to explicitly include infant formula and infant cereal (previously excluded), directly affecting baby food manufacturers in the state. The bill requires manufacturers to test each production batch of baby food for toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) starting January 1, 2025, using accredited labs at least monthly. Beginning January 1, 2026, manufacturers must publicly post test results online for each product and include QR codes on labels linking to FDA information about metal testing and health effects. The law aims to increase transparency and safety for infants under age 2 by aligning testing requirements with FDA standards.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 658: Maryland Department of Health - Forensic Review Boards and Community Forensic Aftercare Program

HB 658 establishes Maryland’s Community Forensic Aftercare Program within the Department of Health. The program monitors two groups: individuals found not criminally responsible due to mental illness who are on conditional release, and people with mental illness or intellectual disability requiring community monitoring under specific legal circumstances. Key provisions require the Program to create a community monitoring board to make decisions about conditional release and out-of-state travel for these individuals. The bill amends existing criminal procedure and health codes to implement this new oversight structure, replacing outdated sections with the new program framework.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare