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Maryland Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 26,430 Active 12,181 In committee 12,181 Passed 3,693 Signed 7,929 Failed 2,304

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 12, 2026

HB 1541: Workgroup to Study Extreme Risk Protective Orders (Sagar Ghimire Act)

HB 1541 establishes a 6-member workgroup to study Maryland's use of extreme risk protective orders (ERPOs), which allow courts to temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed a risk to themselves or others. The workgroup includes the Secretary of Health (as chair), Attorney General, Public Defender, police and sheriffs' association leaders, and a mental health services representative. It will study current ERPO practices and develop policy recommendations by May 1, 2027, reporting to the Governor and legislature. The workgroup will expire automatically on June 30, 2028, with no further legislative action required. This bill does not change ERPO laws but creates a process to evaluate and improve them.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 12, 2026

HB 1568: Local Government - Animal Control - Dogs At Large (Dog Leash Laws)

HB 1568 requires all Maryland counties and municipalities to adopt local laws prohibiting dogs from being unrestrained in public ("at large"). The bill mandates that local governments establish procedures for impounding loose dogs and define penalties for violations, including both civil and criminal consequences. It explicitly states that local jurisdictions may adopt stricter rules than this law requires. The bill references a 2023 court case to define "running at large" but does not change existing state-level animal control authority. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 985: Correctional Services - Immigration Detention Facilities - Minimum Mandatory Standards

SB 985 requires Maryland's Secretary of Public Safety to establish minimum mandatory standards for immigration detention facilities, directly affecting people held for immigration violations (civil detainees) and the facilities housing them. The bill mandates standards covering security, safety, food, housing, sanitation, and individual rights, while creating new reporting obligations for health care workers and security guards who must report violations to the Commission on Correctional Standards. It grants the Commission expanded authority to inspect facilities, enforce compliance, shut down life-threatening facilities, and require disciplinary action against non-reporting staff. The law also updates reporting requirements for facility operators and authorizes the Attorney General to sue private facility operators for violations.

Topics ✓ Immigration

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 12, 2026

HB 156: Election Law - Affiliating With a Party and Voting - Unaffiliated Voters

HB 156 allows unaffiliated voters in Maryland to affiliate with a political party during early voting for primary elections. Specifically, unaffiliated voters can request to change their party affiliation at an early voting center and receive a provisional ballot for their chosen party. The bill amends election law to permit this change during early voting periods, requiring election judges to verify the voter's county residency before issuing the provisional ballot. This change applies only to primary elections and does not alter standard voter registration rules or deadlines for affiliation. The bill does not affect voting eligibility for other elections or nonpartisan contests.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 12, 2026

HB 212: Vehicle Laws - Out-of-State Vehicles - Improper Registration

HB 212 creates a new process for new Maryland residents driving vehicles registered in another state. It requires these residents to either properly register their vehicle with Maryland within 60 days of moving or provide proof the vehicle isn't required to be registered in Maryland (like proof of ownership in another state). If they fail to comply within 60 days, a $7 daily civil fine begins until resolved, and after 120 days, local prosecutors may pursue civil action to immobilize the vehicle. The bill directly affects new Maryland residents who drive out-of-state registered vehicles, replacing automatic penalties with a warning and compliance period.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 12, 2026

HB 403: Public Information Act - Divorce Records

HB 403 amends Maryland's Public Information Act to restrict public access to divorce records. It requires custodians (like court clerks) to deny inspection of divorce-related documents - including divorce applications, financial records submitted during divorce, settlement agreements, and custody orders - unless the requester is a party to the divorce (a "person in interest"), their lawyer, or has a court order authorizing access. The bill directly affects individuals seeking divorce records, making most such records confidential by default. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and does not apply to final divorce decrees.

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 12, 2026

HB 538: 4-Year Institutions of Higher Education - Mandatory Disclosures for New and Prospective Students (Informed Enrollment Act)

HB 538, the Informed Enrollment Act, requires Maryland colleges and universities that admit first-time undergraduate students to provide prospective and current students with clear, standardized information about costs, graduation rates, post-graduation salaries, and debt outcomes. Starting July 1, 2027, institutions must prominently display a link to the federal U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard on their public websites, accompanied by a plain-language explanation of the data it offers. They must also share this link and explanation during student orientation, in recruitment materials, on social media at least once per semester, and on campus career center websites. The law automatically terminates if the federal College Scorecard resource is discontinued, ensuring it only applies while the federal data remains available.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 12, 2026

HB 520: State Board of Physicians - Naturopathic Doctors - Scope of Practice, Renewals, and Professional Liability Insurance

HB 520 updates Maryland's regulations for naturopathic doctors. It modifies their scope of practice by clarifying which prescription drugs they can dispense as "starter doses" (limited to 72 hours or initial therapy), renames the Naturopathic Doctors Formulary Council to focus specifically on "Controlled Dangerous Substances," and adds new requirements for license renewals. The bill also mandates that naturopathic doctors provide patients with specific insurance information and report professional liability insurance details to the State Board of Physicians upon request. These changes directly affect licensed naturopathic doctors practicing in Maryland.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HJ 8: Apology and Acknowledgement of the State's Responsibility in Racial Terror Lynchings

HJ 8 is a symbolic resolution apologizing for Maryland's historical role in racial terror lynchings. It formally acknowledges the state's complicity in 38 documented lynchings between 1854-1933, including failures to protect Black citizens, colluding with local governments to conceal perpetrators, and failing to pass anti-lynching laws. The resolution commits Maryland to taking reparative actions as recommended by the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, though it does not establish new programs or allocate funds. It directly addresses the legacy of harm experienced by Black Marylanders and their descendants. This is a procedural resolution, not a law with enforceable provisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 1123: Criminal Law - Minor's Access to Firearms - Penalty

HB 1123 amends Maryland's criminal code to impose misdemeanor penalties for adults who store or leave a loaded firearm in a location where they knew or should have known an unsupervised minor could access it. The law directly affects adult firearm owners responsible for storage safety, with penalties including up to 5 years in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both. Key exemptions include supervised access by an adult, unlawful entry, law enforcement use during duty, or minors with valid hunter safety certificates. The bill explicitly states violations cannot be used as evidence of negligence in civil cases involving firearm-related injuries or property damage. This bill is scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 1184: Civil Actions - Nonprofit Organizations - Unauthorized Support of Israeli Settlement Activity (Not On Our Dime Act)

HB 1184 prohibits Maryland-registered 501(c)(3)/(4) nonprofit organizations from knowingly providing support for certain Israeli settlement activities banned under the Geneva Conventions. It specifically targets actions like unlawful civilian transfers into occupied territories, violence against protected persons, destruction of Palestinian property (including homes and farms), and forced evictions. The law allows the Maryland Attorney General or affected individuals to sue violators for at least $1 million in damages and requires the Secretary of State to remove offending nonprofits from charitable solicitation registries. This directly affects nonprofits operating in Maryland that receive charitable donations and engage in activities deemed unlawful under international law.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 1099: General Assembly - Term Limits

HB 1099 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit Maryland General Assembly members to serving a maximum of four terms. It would make legislators ineligible for re-election after four full terms, with terms served before the 2030 gubernatorial election not counting toward this limit. Partial terms exceeding two years would count as a full term for the limit calculation. The amendment requires voter approval in the November 2026 election to take effect. This directly affects all current and future state legislators in Maryland.