Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1485: Public Health - Crisis Response System - Resources for Family Members and Trauma-Informed Care Training (Tiarra's Law)

HB 1485, known as Tiarra's Law, requires Maryland's Department of Health to create a pamphlet listing state and national crisis support resources for families affected by overdose deaths. Healthcare providers and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner must provide this pamphlet to families during specific circumstances, such as after an overdose-related death. The bill also mandates the Department to review trauma-informed care training for first responders and behavioral health staff. These changes aim to improve support for grieving families and address gaps highlighted in cases like Tiarra Brown's 2020 overdose death, where families received no resources or guidance. The law amends existing health and public safety codes to integrate these requirements into Maryland's crisis response system.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1112: Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission - Study on Individual and Group Health Insurance Market Stability

HB 1112 requires Maryland's Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission to study and recommend actions to stabilize individual and group health insurance markets. The Commission must examine specific areas including comparing Medicaid and commercial rates for potential premium savings, exploring regulatory changes for managed care organizations, merging insurance markets, and evaluating interstate purchasing pools. It also directs the Commission to assess prescription drug cost controls, support for health centers, reinsurance funds, and the potential reinstatement of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan. This bill does not create new laws or directly affect residents - it mandates a study to inform future policy decisions. The findings will be reported to the General Assembly by December 2026.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 1147: Public Service Commission – Administrative Operations and Personnel Matters (Public Service Commission Flexibility Act)

HB 1147, the "Public Service Commission Flexibility Act," gives Maryland's Public Service Commission (PSC) greater control over its internal operations. The bill requires the PSC to establish its own personnel management system (separate from the state system), set all employee compensation directly, and hire independent contractors for specialized work. It also mandates annual budget submissions to the Department of Budget and Management, annual financial audits, and exempts the PSC from certain state procurement laws and taxes. These changes directly affect PSC employees and the Commission’s administrative structure, streamlining its management while maintaining oversight requirements.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 80: Landlord and Tenant - Residential Leases - Fee Disclosures

HB 80 requires landlords managing four or more rental units to provide prospective tenants with a clear, written list of all fees (including mandatory and optional fees like parking or pet charges) before signing a lease. It prohibits landlords from charging any mandatory fee that wasn’t disclosed in advance and makes lease terms violating this rule unenforceable. Tenants can sue landlords for violations occurring after February 2027, potentially recovering triple damages plus attorney fees. The law excludes utility charges, security deposits, and fees tied to tenant actions (like replacement keys), and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 353: Prince George's County - Termination of Gas or Electric Service to Multifamily Dwelling Units - Notification PG 406-25

HB 353 requires gas and electric companies to notify both the property manager and local county officials before cutting service to a multifamily dwelling unit (like an apartment building) in Prince George’s County due to nonpayment. This applies only when the tenant has given written consent for the property manager to receive termination notices and the unit uses a master meter or submeter. The law mandates that companies establish procedures for this notification process, which must be completed before service is disconnected. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting utility providers, landlords, and county elected officials in Prince George’s County.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 367: Health Insurance - Physical Therapy - Copayments, Coinsurance, and Deductibles

HB 367 prohibits health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations in Maryland from charging patients more for physical therapy services (like those for injury recovery) than they charge for an annual physical or wellness visit under the same plan. It requires these insurers to clearly disclose physical therapy coverage details, including limits and conditions, in all plans. The law applies to all health insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland after January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects patients seeking physical therapy and insurers operating in Maryland by standardizing out-of-pocket costs for these services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 419: Prince George's County - Comprehensive Traffic Safety Audit - Maryland Route 202 and Maryland Route 704 PG 303-26

HB 419 requires the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to conduct a comprehensive safety review of Maryland Routes 202 and 704 in Prince George’s County. The audit must analyze crash data, identify infrastructure and traffic safety issues, and include recommendations for quick-implementation safety improvements for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, along with community input. MDOT must submit findings and recommendations to Prince George’s County’s state legislative delegation by December 31, 2026. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, and automatically expires on June 30, 2027, making it a temporary measure focused solely on the audit process.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 53: Criminal Law – Nondomesticated Animal Prohibitions – Alterations

HB 53 bans the import, sale, trade, possession, breeding, or exchange of specific wild animals in Maryland, including foxes, bears, alligators, non-domestic cats/dogs, primates, poisonous snakes, kangaroos, wallabies, wallaroos, and zebras. It directly affects owners of these animals, with exceptions for research facilities, licensed animal exhibitors, nonprofit sanctuaries meeting strict criteria, veterinarians, and short-term travelers. Existing owners of most banned animals may continue possession if they notify local authorities by August 1, 2006, while kangaroo/zebra owners have until December 1, 2026. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and modifies existing criminal prohibitions without creating new penalties.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 194: Incarcerated Individual Apprenticeship Pilot Program

HB 194, the Incarcerated Job Training Act, requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to create a paid apprenticeship program for incarcerated individuals in skilled trades. The bill mandates that participants earn at least the state minimum wage, with earnings deposited into their personal accounts for use after release. Employers - such as state agencies, local governments, or private businesses - can participate, but may reject assignments or withdraw from the program. Successful completers receive a certificate within 30 days of release, and the program must prioritize developing marketable job skills. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 505: Public and Nonpublic Schools - Student School Transfers - Academic Records Documentation

HB 505 requires public and nonpublic Maryland schools to accept specific unofficial documents as proof of academic records when a student transfers, *only* if the sending school denies an official transcript due to a dispute between the school and the student. The bill specifies that receiving schools must accept: unofficial transcripts, student-provided report cards, standardized test scores, copies of awards, or unofficial AP/IB results. This directly affects transferring students facing transcript denial, sending schools involved in disputes, and receiving schools that must follow these documentation rules. The policy change aims to prevent educational disruption during transfers by providing alternative verification methods.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 431: Real Property - Recordation and Printing of Subdivision Plats - Alterations

HB 431 updates Maryland's rules for recording subdivision plats (maps showing how land is divided into lots). It increases the fee for printing a set of plats from $5 to $25 per page, except for plats related to state highway projects. The bill also sets new requirements for plats, including standardized formatting, coordinate markers for surveying, and clear north arrows to ensure accuracy. These changes directly affect land developers, surveyors, and property owners who need to record subdivision maps with county clerks.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HJ 6: Judicial Compensation Commission - Recommendations

This House Joint Resolution (HJ 6) implements salary recommendations from Maryland's Judicial Compensation Commission for judges across all state courts. It directly affects judges in the Supreme Court, Appellate Court, Circuit Courts, and District Court by increasing their salaries for fiscal years 2027 through 2030, with specific raises starting July 1, 2026 (e.g., Supreme Court Chief Justice from $255,433 to $261,333). The resolution also adds a $7,500 annual stipend for administrative judges in the Appellate Court and circuit/District Courts. These changes take effect automatically if the General Assembly does not amend them within 50 days of the resolution's introduction.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results