Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate May 6, 2025

SB 722: Department of the Environment - Definition of Ecological Restoration

SB 722 defines "ecological restoration" in Maryland law as activities aimed at recovering, re-establishing, or enhancing degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems. The bill specifies this includes improving physical/chemical/biological processes, restoring natural functions, or protecting ecosystem resilience. It requires the Department of the Environment to update relevant regulations to either incorporate this definition or align with it. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, directly affecting the Department and entities regulated under its environmental rules.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate May 6, 2025

SB 667: Gaming - Slot Machines - Skills-Based Amusement Devices

SB 667 clarifies that certain "skills-based amusement devices" are excluded from Maryland's definition of "slot machine," allowing them to award prizes under strict limits. Specifically, these devices may provide noncash merchandise or prizes per play that do not exceed a minimal value approved by the State Lottery Commission, and accumulated prizes must be exchanged for merchandise of comparable total value. The bill directly affects businesses operating such devices in venues like family entertainment centers, ensuring they avoid slot machine regulations. Key provisions prevent these devices from awarding excessive prizes or functioning like traditional gambling machines. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 6, 2025

SB 85: Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025

SB 85, the Braille Flag Memorial Act of 2025, requires Maryland's Department of Veterans and Military Families to place American braille tactile flags in one or more state veterans' cemeteries by October 1, 2025. These tactile flags, designed for blind or visually impaired individuals to experience the American flag through touch, directly benefit blind veterans and visually impaired visitors to the cemeteries. The bill amends existing law to mandate this placement at no additional cost, building on Maryland's existing five state veterans' cemeteries. It is a commemorative measure focused on accessibility and honoring veterans, with no new benefits or funding requirements.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Maryland · Senate May 6, 2025

SB 222: Public Health – Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council – Membership

SB 222 modifies the membership structure of Maryland's Cannabis Public Health Advisory Council by specifying its composition. The bill adds nine governor-appointed members, including a representative from historically Black colleges, a cannabis healthcare provider, a pharmacist, a substance use disorder specialist, and others with expertise in cannabis policy, health equity, and laboratory testing. This procedural change does not alter cannabis laws or regulations but defines who serves on the council to advise the state on cannabis-related public health issues. The council will include legislative appointees, agency heads, and the new governor-appointed members, effective October 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 6, 2025

SB 846: Business Regulation - Cellular Phone Carriers - Authorized Users

SB 846 requires cellular phone carriers in Maryland to include a specific option in service contracts. This option allows multiple account holders (customers of record) to alter, modify, or cancel the service contract without needing others' approval, but only if all account holders agreed in writing when the contract was first signed. The bill directly affects customers sharing a phone plan, such as families or roommates, by giving them more flexibility to manage their account terms. It becomes effective October 1, 2025, and amends existing law to mandate this provision.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 6, 2025

SB 371: State Board of Pharmacy - Renewal Notices - Electronic Means

SB 371 requires Maryland's State Board of Pharmacy to send renewal notices for pharmacy licenses, permits, and registrations to affected individuals via email (electronic means) by default, rather than by paper mail. This applies to pharmacy licensees, permit holders, registrants (like pharmacy technicians), and wholesale distributors. Recipients can opt out of email notices and request paper mail instead. The notices must include the expiration date, renewal deadline, and fee amount, with paper mail automatically sent if an email notice bounces back.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 6, 2025

HB 562: Baltimore County - Political Party Central Committee - Elections

HB 562 amends Maryland's Election Law to reduce the number of members elected from each councilmanic district to Baltimore County's Republican Party Central Committee, changing it from four to three members per district. This change directly affects the structure of the Republican Party's local committee organization in Baltimore County. The bill modifies Section 4-203(c)(1) of the Annotated Code of Maryland, specifically altering the membership requirements for the committee. The law takes effect October 1, 2025. This is a procedural adjustment to party committee elections, not a change to general voting or election procedures.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 6, 2025

SB 685: Election Law - Local Boards of Elections - Language Assistance Program

SB 685 requires Maryland local election boards to provide language assistance to voters with limited English proficiency in counties meeting specific census-based thresholds. If a county has more than 2% of its voting-age population (with at least 100 people) sharing a non-English language and having limited English proficiency, the State Board of Elections must mandate assistance in that language. Local boards must then provide translated voting materials (forms, ballots, notices), multilingual signage at polling places, and recruit bilingual election judges. This applies to all elections starting January 1, 2026, and requires materials to be of equal quality and available simultaneously with English versions. The law does not require assistance for languages without sufficient voter demand as defined by the thresholds.

Topics ✓ Immigration

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 6, 2025

HB 1481: Disability Services - Adapted Vehicle Access Pilot Program - Established

HB 1481 establishes Maryland's Adapted Vehicle Access Pilot Program to provide modified vehicles to eligible individuals who require a wheelchair for mobility, are licensed drivers, and qualify to operate adapted vehicles. The Department of Disabilities will administer the program, prioritizing participants in areas with limited public transportation access, and solicit donations of vehicles, modification services, and funds to support it. The bill requires the department to study the program's impacts on participants' independence, mobility, job opportunities, and reliance on public subsidies, with a final report due by December 1, 2028. The pilot program is set to run for five years, ending automatically on September 30, 2030.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 6, 2025

SB 109: Maryland Public Ethics Law - School Boards - Compliance Certification

SB 109 requires Maryland school boards (including county boards and Baltimore City's Board of School Commissioners) to annually certify by October 1 to the State Ethics Commission that they comply with the Maryland Public Ethics Law. This applies to both school board members and, where relevant, local school system officials and employees. The bill mandates this certification as a new requirement under Section 5-816 of the Maryland Code, effective October 1, 2025. It directly affects all public school boards by adding a formal, yearly compliance verification step.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 6, 2025

SB 785: Labor and Employment - Unpaid Parental Leave - Definition of Employer

SB 785 amends Maryland's unpaid parental leave law by revising the definition of "employer" to exclude businesses covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for the current year. This change directly affects Maryland employers with 15-49 employees who are already subject to federal FMLA requirements. Under the bill, these employers would no longer be required to provide state-mandated unpaid parental leave benefits, as federal rules would take precedence. The law would take effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 6, 2025

HB 199: Election Law - Notice to Permanent Absentee Voters

HB 199 modifies Maryland's election law to change how the State Board of Elections notifies permanent absentee voters. It requires the State Board to send written notices to these voters 120 days before an election (ending 90 days prior), instead of using a fixed date-based deadline. The notice must confirm the voter's permanent absentee status, include their address and chosen ballot delivery method (mail/email/text), and inform them to update changes. If initial contact fails using the voter's preferred method, the State Board must attempt contact via another available method. This affects all Maryland voters enrolled in the permanent absentee ballot program.

Bill results