SB 565 prohibits the Maryland Stadium Authority from selling Shamrock Farms (a specific property at 4926 Woodbine Road, Woodbine, MD 21797) except under defined conditions. It authorizes Carroll County Commissioners to purchase the property for $4,480,000 (adjusted for inflation) by July 1, 2029, with payment allowed in five annual installments using county funds or donations. The bill requires Carroll County to notify the Authority of its purchase intent by July 1, 2029, and transfers all rights and zoning authority over the property to Carroll County upon sale. This directly affects the Maryland Stadium Authority and Carroll County, setting specific terms for the property transfer.
HB 1459 requires owners or operators of large battery energy storage systems (like grid-scale batteries) to pay for specialized fire response training and equipment for local fire departments serving those locations. The training must follow the NFPA 855 safety standard for battery fire suppression. The State Fire Marshal will administer and enforce these requirements, which take effect October 1, 2026. This directly affects battery storage facility owners and the fire departments responsible for responding to incidents at these sites.
SB 761 would allow Maryland to expand commercial gaming to include internet gaming, but only after voters approve it in a November 2026 referendum. The bill restricts internet gaming licenses to existing video lottery operators and their contracted entities, requiring new implementation laws to set application criteria and gaming rules. If approved by voters, revenues from internet gaming must fund public education. The bill mandates a voter referendum on the question "Do you favor the expansion of commercial gaming in the State of Maryland to authorize Internet gaming for dedicated purposes including the funding of public education?" before any licensing can occur.
HB 296 revises Maryland’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) structure by repealing the CTE Skills Standards Advisory Committee and updating the CTE Committee’s composition and duties. The bill requires state agencies and workforce programs to use a state-approved list of occupations for career pathway planning, aligning CTE programs with job market needs. It modifies the CTE Committee to include seven members (adding an employer representative role) and directs it to coordinate statewide CTE systems, develop career pathway standards, and work with businesses. This affects Maryland public schools, postsecondary institutions, and workforce development programs that deliver CTE pathways to students. The changes aim to streamline CTE program alignment with industry credentials and workforce demands.
HB 10 updates Maryland law to include qualified digital publications as valid platforms for publishing required legal advertisements and notices (like court filings or government announcements). It establishes specific standards for digital publications to qualify, requiring them to produce original local news content (at least one article weekly), employ staff dedicated to local reporting (30+ hours/week), and meet other criteria like public interest focus. This directly affects counties and municipalities that must publish such notices, ensuring digital outlets meet comparable standards to traditional print newspapers. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, with special provisions for Prince George’s and Dorchester Counties.
This Senate Joint Resolution adopts the Judicial Compensation Commission's recommended salary increases for Maryland judges, effective July 1, 2026, through 2030. It specifies exact annual salary amounts for all judicial positions, including increases for Supreme Court Justices, Appellate Court judges, Circuit Court judges, and District Court judges (e.g., Chief Justice from $255,433 to $261,333 in 2026). The resolution also provides a $7,500 annual stipend for administrative judges in the Appellate Court and circuit/District Courts. These changes directly affect all sitting judges in Maryland's court system and require the General Assembly to adopt the recommendations to implement the new salaries.
This Senate Joint Resolution (SJ 1) adopts the salary recommendations proposed by Maryland's Governor's Salary Commission for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor's 2027-2031 term. It sets specific annual salaries: the Governor's salary increases from $195,000 to $210,000 over four years, and the Lieutenant Governor's from $175,000 to $185,000. The resolution becomes effective January 20, 2027, following the Commission's evaluation of cost of living, comparisons to other state officials, and salaries of governors in other states. The bill directly affects only the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, formalizing their compensation without altering the Commission's structure or process.
HB 164 establishes new rules for handling yard waste collected on state-owned buildings and highways in Maryland. It requires workers to collect waste in reusable containers or compostable paper bags (not single-use plastic) and mandates disposal at specific facilities like organics recycling centers, natural wood recycling facilities, or state sites that create mulch. The bill applies to anyone employed to manage yard waste on state properties, excluding noxious weeds or invasive species. These requirements take effect October 1, 2026, aiming to improve waste management practices for state grounds.
HB 428 amends Maryland law to change eligibility for former judges to be temporarily assigned back to courts. It removes a disqualification for judges who lost an election but had previously won judicial office, while adding new restrictions: former judges who voluntarily retired due to disability, were removed from office, censured, or are currently practicing law cannot be recalled. The bill also maintains requirements like a minimum service period (2 years statewide, 1 year in Talbot County) and approval by the Supreme Court and administrative judge. These changes directly affect former judges seeking temporary court assignments and take effect October 1, 2026.
This Maryland bill establishes a grant program to help American Legion posts purchase and install automated external defibrillators on their property. The Maryland Department of Health will administer the program and seek funding to award grants to eligible posts that currently lack at least two AEDs on-site. Posts with no AEDs will be prioritized for funding over those with only one, and the program will include simplified application procedures and accommodations for posts with limited resources or language barriers. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, and allows the Governor to include funding for the program in the annual budget.
HB 1366 amends Maryland's family law to ensure final protective orders remain effective for the full duration of a respondent's probation. It directly affects victims seeking protection and respondents on probation, requiring courts to maintain all order provisions until probation ends. The key provision (Section 4-506(j)(3)) prohibits early termination of protective orders if a respondent is on probation when the order is issued or later placed on probation. This change replaces prior language governing order duration and takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1363 requires individuals convicted of two or more "domestically related crimes" (defined as crimes against someone eligible for family law relief or with whom they had a sexual relationship within 12 months) to register as domestic violence offenders. Within 7 days of the second conviction, registrants must provide their full name, crime details, physical description, valid ID, and signature to a supervising authority (like a court or correctional facility). Registration lasts 2 years for one prior conviction or 5 years for two or more convictions, and the Department of Public Safety must make this information publicly available online. This bill directly affects repeat domestic violence offenders in Maryland, creating a formal registration system to track them.
