Maryland Bills

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 941: Public Health - Public Buildings - Hygiene Products

HB 941 requires public restrooms in state and local government buildings, public transportation facilities (like stations), and public parks or recreation centers to provide specific hygiene products. It mandates an adequate supply of hand soap, toilet paper, towels or drying devices, water, waste containers, and menstrual hygiene products (such as tampons, sanitary napkins, and pads). The bill applies to all "public buildings" as defined - excluding schools - but covers facilities owned, leased, or operated by the state or political subdivisions. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, ensuring consistent access to essential hygiene items in publicly accessible spaces.

Mary Lehman (D) Charlotte Crutchfield (D) Jamila Woods (D) Sheree Sample-Hughes (D) Deni Taveras (D)

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 1263: Public Health - Workgroup on Postoperative Cosmetic Care

HB 1263 establishes a workgroup to study the regulation of postoperative cosmetic care provided by non-physician practitioners (such as estheticians or massage therapists), focusing on patient safety, consumer protection, and access to qualified providers. The workgroup, composed of health officials, patient advocates, and care providers, will examine current rules, identify gaps in care access, review risks from unregulated services, and evaluate best practices from other states. It must submit interim and final reports by December 2026 and 2027, respectively, and cannot recommend new licensing without legislative approval. The workgroup expires on June 30, 2028, unless extended.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 1215: Maryland Stadium Authority - Sale of Shamrock Farms to Carroll County

HB 1215 allows Carroll County to purchase Shamrock Farms (a specific property at 4926 Woodbine Road, Woodbine, MD) from the Maryland Stadium Authority for $4,480,000 (adjusted for inflation). It requires Carroll County Commissioners to notify the Authority of their intent to buy by July 1, 2029, and permits payment in five annual installments using county funds or donations. The bill amends state laws to prohibit the Stadium Authority from selling the property except under these terms and transfers all rights (including zoning authority) to Carroll County upon sale. This directly affects the Stadium Authority as the seller and Carroll County as the buyer.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 1609: Frederick County - Gaming - Acceptance of Credit as Payment

HB 1609 allows Frederick County volunteer fire, rescue, and ambulance organizations to accept credit (e.g., credit cards) as payment for gaming events they host, such as raffles or bingo. It amends Maryland’s Criminal Law to remove the prior prohibition (in Section 12-108(b)) that barred these groups from accepting credit for gaming devices. The bill specifically targets organizations listed under Section 13-1304(b)(2) and (3) of the Maryland Code. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not change existing rules about using tokens instead of cash.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 1068: Health Insurance - Special Enrollment Period for Newly Hired Employees of Small Businesses

HB 1068 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to provide a 60-day special enrollment period for individuals who become newly hired by small businesses that do not offer employer-sponsored health plans. This applies to people purchasing coverage through the state’s health insurance marketplace (Individual Exchange) or outside it. The special enrollment period begins on the first day of employment and allows new hires to enroll in health insurance without waiting for the standard open enrollment period. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, directly benefiting newly employed workers at small businesses without health benefits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 312: Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Redeposit of Accumulated Contributions - Alterations

HB 312 allows correctional officers who previously withdrew retirement contributions to regain service credit by redepositing those funds plus interest. Specifically, it expands eligibility to include members who withdrew from the Employees’ Pension System or Teachers’ Pension System (previously only Employees’ Retirement System was covered). To qualify, members must redeposit the withdrawn contributions in a single payment plus regular interest. This change directly affects former correctional officers seeking to restore prior service credit toward retirement benefits. The bill amends Maryland’s Correctional Officers’ Retirement System rules to include these additional pension systems.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 324: Family Law - Child Support - Assignment of Rights

HB 324 modifies Maryland's child support laws to streamline support collection for foster children. It authorizes the Child Support Administration to secure state assignment of child support rights for children receiving foster care maintenance payments, and requires courts to automatically terminate existing child support orders for these children upon the state's request - without needing to prove a new change in circumstances. This affects foster children (who receive maintenance payments), their parents (whose support obligations may end), and the state (which gains authority to collect support). The bill updates specific sections of Maryland's Family Law code to implement these changes, effective October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 441: Prince George's County - Speed Monitoring Systems - Maryland Route 210 - Penalties PG 306-26

HB 441 modifies Maryland law to allow the Motor Vehicle Administration to suspend vehicle registrations for drivers who repeatedly ignore speed violations recorded by cameras on Maryland Route 210 (Indian Head Highway) in Prince George’s County. It requires registration suspension if a driver fails to pay fines for three or more overdue citations within 90 days, or for total fines exceeding $500. Vehicle owners must pay all overdue fines plus a $30 fee to restore registration. The bill also mandates annual reports to the legislature on suspension and reinstatement statistics, including geographic data. This applies only to violations captured by speed monitoring systems on this specific highway.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 599: Health - Licensure of Hospitals - Ownership Requirements

HB 599 requires hospitals seeking a new license or undergoing ownership changes after October 1, 2026, to be federally recognized nonprofit organizations registered with the state. Specifically, it mandates that hospitals qualifying for licensure on or after that date must operate as nonprofits under federal law and maintain that status as a condition of their license. The bill also prohibits transferring ownership of any licensed hospital after October 1, 2026, to any entity other than another nonprofit organization. This directly affects hospitals seeking new licenses, renewing licenses, or changing ownership in Maryland after the effective date.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 17, 2026

HB 1626: Agriculture - Access to Food (Maryland Food Security, Access, and Equity Act)

This bill creates a new Food Security Coordination Office within Maryland's Department of Agriculture to oversee statewide efforts to improve food access and reduce food insecurity. It establishes a Rural-to-Urban Produce Distribution Program that would connect local farmers with urban and suburban communities through distribution hubs and improved transportation infrastructure. The legislation also sets up a financing program offering low- or no-interest loans to help fund projects like cold storage facilities, delivery fleets, and distribution centers that move Maryland-grown produce to food-insecure areas. Additionally, the bill expands the Jane Lawton Farm-to-School Program to include more schools and adds support for school gardens and nutrition education. The Department of Agriculture would be required to publish an annual report on food security and coordinate partnerships between farmers, food distributors, and community organizations.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 17, 2026

HB 1418: Public and Nonpublic Schools - Employing Individuals Charged With Crimes - Prohibition

HB 1418 prohibits public school systems and nonpublic schools in Maryland from hiring or retaining employees who have been charged with specific serious crimes, including child sexual abuse, violent crimes, drug distribution, school-targeting federal offenses, or certain felonies. It requires school contracts to bar contractors from assigning such employees to school premises with unsupervised access to children. Employees charged with these crimes must notify their school within two business days; failure to do so bars rehiring for five years after the charge is resolved. The bill directly affects schools, contractors, and employees by creating mandatory reporting and employment restrictions for individuals facing certain criminal charges.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 17, 2026

HB 1597: Health - Unregulated Space in Hospital Operating Suites - Pilot Project

HB 1597 establishes a 3-year pilot project (2026-2029) allowing up to five Maryland hospitals to create unregulated operating room space within regulated facilities. Participating hospitals must follow specific criteria: maintain charity care, charge comparable rates to regulated services, reduce costs for Medicaid/Medicare, and avoid duplicating services in regulated spaces. The Health Services Cost Review Commission administers the pilot, requires annual reports on procedures, costs, and impacts on healthcare efficiency, and mandates data sharing from associated surgical centers. This directly affects participating hospitals, patients using unregulated space, and payers (including Medicaid/Medicare), with no changes to existing regulated hospital services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results