HB 458 authorizes an annual $350,000 appropriation starting fiscal year 2027 for the University of Maryland, College Park's TerpsEXCEED Program, which serves students with intellectual disabilities. The funding provides dedicated resources to support academic success through course accommodations, peer mentoring, and career development services like internships and job placement. It also covers management of financial aid, self-directed waiver budgets, and cross-agency coordination for each student. This bill establishes a sustainable funding source for the program’s operations and future expansion, directly benefiting enrolled students with intellectual disabilities. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 182 expands Maryland's Veterans Service Animal Program to include spouses and dependents of eligible veterans as direct participants. The bill amends existing law to define "eligible family member" as a spouse or dependent and updates program purposes and participant definitions to explicitly cover them. Under this change, family members meeting the veteran's eligibility criteria (active military service, honorable discharge, and Maryland residency or VA care in-state) can now access the program. The program provides referrals to nonprofit trainers for service dogs, support dogs, or therapy horses, with funding and training support through the state Department. This change directly affects family members of qualifying veterans who previously could not participate in the program.
SB 911 increases Maryland's property tax exemption for blind individuals and their surviving spouses from $15,000 to $40,000 on their primary residence. The bill defines a "blind individual" as someone with a permanent visual impairment meeting specific medical criteria and clarifies that the exemption applies to the assessed value of a dwelling house (including the lot and necessary structures). Surviving spouses who haven't remarried become eligible for the exemption after the blind individual's death. The bill also specifies that individuals cannot claim both this exemption and another specific property tax exemption, though they may use it alongside other available exemptions.
HB 497 prohibits youth transportation companies from using physical restraints (like handcuffs or blindfolds) or visual impairments when moving children to residential child care programs, except in emergencies with no less restrictive alternatives. It also bans pickups between 9 PM and 6 AM. The law directly affects companies transporting children to facilities such as wilderness programs, therapeutic boarding schools, or behavioral modification programs (excluding hospitals, foster homes, or secure facilities). Violations allow the Attorney General to seek injunctions or up to $1,000 in damages per offense.
SB 352 reduces the number of members elected from each councilmanic district to the Baltimore County Republican Party Central Committee from four to three. The bill amends Section 4-203(c)(1) of Maryland's Election Law and takes effect October 1, 2025. This change specifically affects the Republican Party's central committee election process in Baltimore County, without altering rules for other parties or committees. The legislation modifies the existing law to adjust the committee's composition per district.
SB 310 revises Maryland's Youth Suicide Prevention School Program to require schools to teach students about the link between gambling and youth suicide. The bill amends curriculum standards (sections 7-501(2) and 7-504(b)(1)(ii) of the Maryland Annotated Code) to explicitly include gambling as a factor related to youth suicide, alongside drug and alcohol use. This change affects all public schools receiving state funding for suicide prevention programs, mandating classroom instruction that increases awareness of gambling's connection to suicide risk. The policy update responds to research showing youth gambling rates are rising (17.5% of high school students reported gambling in the past year) and that gambling problems correlate with higher suicide attempts among young adults. The bill does not alter funding or program structure but specifies new educational content for existing suicide prevention curricula.
HB 1122 increases the maximum membership of Maryland's Office of Child Care Advisory Council from 30 to 31 members and adds a representative from the Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators to the council's required membership. The bill modifies existing law to ensure the council includes this new library administrator position alongside existing representatives from child care providers, health departments, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders. This change directly affects the council's composition and its ability to gather diverse input on child care policy. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 880 requires Maryland's Governor to include a $5 million annual appropriation in the state budget for the Governor's Office for Children to provide grants covering the operating expenses of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland. Starting in fiscal year 2027, this funding must be included each year in the budget process through a specific amendment to state law. The bill directly affects the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland by guaranteeing consistent state funding for their daily operations. This policy change mandates a fixed annual allocation, ensuring predictable financial support without altering the clubs' existing structure or services.
HB 504, the Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act, replaces Maryland's old Interstate Agreement on Qualifications of Educational Personnel with the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, allowing teachers with multistate licenses to teach across participating states. The bill modifies school funding by freezing certain increases to the Concentration of Poverty School Grant Program, redirecting interest from the Academic Excellence Fund to support the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, and establishing new grants like the Maryland Teacher Relocation Incentive and Collaborative Time Innovation Demonstration Grant. It requires countywide community school implementation plans, alters the Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program to better support local teacher development, and expands wraparound services in community schools. These changes directly affect Maryland public school systems, teachers, and students by reshaping teacher recruitment, retention, and school resource allocation.
HB 565 requires the Maryland State Board of Pharmacy to send renewal notices for licenses, permits, and registrations to pharmacy professionals (including pharmacists, pharmacies, and pharmacy technicians) via email by default, rather than first-class mail. Licensees, permit holders, or registrants may request paper mail if they prefer. The bill updates existing law to specify that electronic notices must include the expiration date, renewal deadline, and fee amount, with paper mail sent if an electronic notice bounces or if the recipient requests it. This change applies to all pharmacy-related renewals under Maryland's Health Occupations code.
SB 51 allows out-of-state certified public accountants (CPAs) with valid licenses to practice in Maryland without needing additional state licensing, provided they hold a license from another state that requires passing the Uniform CPA Exam. It directly affects licensed CPAs whose principal business is outside Maryland, enabling them to offer services remotely via mail, phone, or email without paying fees or notifying the state Board. Key provisions include requiring these accountants to consent to Maryland's disciplinary authority and comply with state laws, while allowing them to use titles like "CPA" in their public practice. The bill removes barriers for reciprocal licensing, streamlining practice for qualified out-of-state CPAs.
Maryland's SB 114 requires state licensing units (like those for professions or trades) to allow veterans to request a "veteran status" notation on their occupational licenses. Veterans applying for or renewing a license can voluntarily provide documentation (such as a DD-214 or state certification) to have this notation added. Licensees who consent can also be contacted by state agencies about eligibility for veterans' benefits. The bill aims to streamline access to benefits by connecting license applications directly to veterans' eligibility determination. It takes effect October 1, 2025.
