Maryland Bills

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 910: Child Care Scholarship Program - Priority for Child Care Providers

HB 910 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to create a priority system for the Child Care Scholarship Program, specifically favoring children of individuals who work in licensed child care centers, registered family child care homes, or registered large family child care homes. This change applies to scholarship applications submitted after July 1, 2026, directly affecting child care providers and their children seeking financial aid for early childhood education. The bill amends existing law to establish this priority framework within the scholarship program's administration. It does not alter eligibility criteria for other families but adds a new ranking consideration for child care providers' children.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1596: Maryland Technology Development Corporation - Maryland Growth Initiative - Established

HB 1596 establishes the Maryland Growth Initiative within the Maryland Technology Development Corporation to support start-up companies in Maryland that are transitioning from early development to scaling. The Initiative will identify and prioritize companies in this growth phase, with special focus on those previously funded by Maryland Innovation Initiative, other Corporation programs, or minority-owned businesses. It creates a permanent $5 million annual fund administered by the Corporation, which may use private investment, interest earnings, and state appropriations to provide post-seed funding, business expertise, and infrastructure support - without replacing existing funding sources. The fund is designed to help companies scale locally instead of relocating.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1204: Primary and Secondary Education - Education Savings Account Program - Establishment

HB 1204 establishes Maryland's Education Savings Account Program, providing state-funded accounts for parents of eligible K-12 students to cover approved education expenses. Eligible students include those who attended public school for at least 100 days last year (or military-connected students), with funding set at 75% of per-pupil state/local funding for families below 500% of the federal poverty level, and 50% for others. Parents must sign agreements committing to use funds only for approved costs (like private school tuition or licensed tutoring), not double-bill insurance, and return unused funds upon graduation or withdrawal. The bill also adds a state income tax deduction for deposits into these accounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1031: Law Enforcement - Use of Force - National Guard Members

HB 1031 establishes specific use-of-force standards for National Guard members operating in Maryland under federal authority (per 32 U.S.C. § 502). It requires National Guard members to use only necessary and proportional force to prevent imminent harm or achieve legitimate law enforcement objectives, while mandating de-escalation, intervention in excessive force incidents, medical aid for injured persons, and detailed documentation of all force encounters. Violating these standards and causing serious injury or death constitutes a misdemeanor punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The law applies directly to National Guard personnel supporting state operations under federal orders, not to regular police officers.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1619: State Center – Development – Contract, Plan Requirements, and Advisory Group

HB 1619 requires developers working on Maryland's 28-acre State Center property in Baltimore City to include three key provisions in new or modified development contracts: (1) enforceable community benefits agreements with the State Center Neighborhood Alliance, (2) comprehensive local hiring plans targeting construction jobs and long-term employment, and (3) economic improvement plans prioritizing minority-, women-, and locally-owned businesses. It also establishes a State Center Advisory Group composed of neighborhood association representatives, anchor institutions (like universities and hospitals), and community organizations within a 1-mile radius. The group must provide community input, leverage development benefits for surrounding neighborhoods, and ensure transparency between the developer, state, and residents. This bill directly affects developers, the State Center Neighborhood Alliance, and Baltimore City residents near the State Center site.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1266: Criminal Procedure - Victims of Sexual Assault Offenses - Test Kit Submission Requirements

HB 1266 requires Maryland law enforcement agencies to submit sexual assault evidence collection kits (physical evidence gathered from victims' bodies/clothing after an assault) to forensic labs within 30 days of receipt. It clarifies that kits must include all requested reference standards within this timeframe and specifies exceptions where submission isn’t required (e.g., if evidence disproves the assault, the victim declines consent, or the suspect’s DNA is already in CODIS). The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies handling sexual assault cases and ensures timely forensic analysis for victims. It amends Maryland’s Criminal Procedure law (Section 11-926) and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 997: State Finance and Procurement - Prevailing Wage Rate - Calculation

HB 997 modifies how Maryland's Commissioner of Labor and Industry calculates prevailing wage rates for state construction projects. It prohibits the use of wage data from investor-owned electric and gas companies when determining these rates, and requires the Commissioner to vacate any prevailing wage rate calculated using such prohibited data. The bill mandates a recalculation using allowable data sources for affected projects. This directly impacts state contractors and workers on public works projects requiring prevailing wage compliance, ensuring rates reflect broader local wage patterns rather than utility sector data. The changes apply to state procurement projects covered under Maryland's prevailing wage laws.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 675: State Finance and Procurement - Prevailing Wage Rate - Calculation

SB 675 modifies how Maryland's Commissioner of Labor and Industry calculates prevailing wage rates for public works projects. It prohibits the Commissioner from using wage data from investor-owned gas or electric companies (defined in the bill) when determining these rates. If a wage rate was previously calculated using such prohibited data, the Commissioner must vacate that rate and recalculate it correctly. This directly affects public works contractors and the state's process for setting fair wages on government-funded projects. The bill aims to ensure wage calculations rely only on data from non-utility sectors.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1579: State Personnel - Family and Medical Leave - Limits and Use

HB 1579 modifies Maryland state employee leave policies for family and medical care. It allows employees to take up to 30 days of paid leave without medical certification for childcare following a birth or adoption placement, and up to 60 days total for two employees jointly caring for a child. The bill also ensures state units cannot limit federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) coverage below 24 weeks for Executive Branch employees caring for a newborn, adopted child, or a child with a serious health condition. These changes apply specifically to employees in the State Personnel Management System within Maryland's Executive Branch, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 25: Income Tax - Cybersecurity Technology and Service Tax Credit - Alterations

SB 25 creates the "Buy Maryland Cybersecurity Tax Credit," allowing Maryland businesses to claim a 50% tax credit (up to $50,000 annually) for purchasing cybersecurity technology or services from Maryland-based cybersecurity companies meeting specific criteria. The credit is refundable (businesses can get cash if the credit exceeds taxes owed) and requires sellers to be Maryland-headquartered, small businesses (under $10 million revenue), and/or owned by minorities, women, veterans, or located in designated business zones. It limits total credits per seller to $1 million annually and ends all new credits after 2030. This directly affects Maryland businesses buying cybersecurity and qualifying Maryland cybersecurity firms.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology ✓ Veterans

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 9: Sales and Use Tax - Tax-Free Day - Veterans' Day

SB 9 establishes an annual tax-free day on November 11 (Veterans Day) in Maryland starting in 2026. It exempts sales tax on items costing less than $2,000 purchased by veterans, provided they show valid ID (like a driver's license or government ID) indicating veteran status. The Comptroller may suspend this tax-free day at their sole discretion. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly benefiting eligible veterans making qualifying purchases.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 605: Public Safety - Gun Violence Victim Relocation Program - Establishment

HB 605 establishes a Gun Violence Victim Relocation Program within Maryland's Victim Services Unit to help eligible victims of gun violence relocate for safety. The program assists victims who experienced violence near their home or live near a suspect, and need relocation to protect themselves or their families, by providing relocation assistance, moving expenses, rent support, counseling, legal aid, and job training. It creates a dedicated nonlapsing fund to finance these services and requires the Victim Services Unit to keep applicants' personal information confidential. The program also mandates collaboration with housing and law enforcement agencies to ensure comprehensive support for participants.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results