HB 1245 establishes the Baltimore First Responders Child Care Support and Accessibility Program within Maryland’s State Department of Education. It provides monthly child care allowances to first responders (including Baltimore City police, fire, and emergency medical personnel) in Baltimore City to support their dependent children’s early development and address recruitment/retention challenges. The program requires $600,000 in annual state funding starting fiscal year 2028, administered with Baltimore City public safety departments and nonprofit partners. Annual reports must track participation by agency, children served, and impacts on recruitment, retention, and public safety.
HB 1394, or "Bentley’s Law," requires courts to order convicted drivers who cause a parent’s or guardian’s death through impaired driving (alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances) to pay financial restitution directly to the child victim. The law mandates courts consider the child’s financial needs, living standard, health, and custody situation when setting restitution amounts. Payments must continue until the child turns 18 or graduates high school, with special provisions for incarcerated offenders. This law directly affects children who lost a parent/guardian to impaired driving fatalities and the drivers convicted of those offenses.
HB 1306 requires courts to order individuals under court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) to surrender firearms to law enforcement and prohibits firearm possession during the AOT period, if the court determines the person poses a risk of causing physical harm with a firearm. This applies specifically to people already subject to AOT orders under Maryland law, not the general public. Key provisions include mandating court risk assessments, requiring surrender to police (with receipts and storage details), allowing limited transportation of firearms under court orders, and permitting firearm return upon AOT order expiration - unless the person is otherwise barred from firearm ownership. The bill amends Maryland’s health code to integrate these firearm restrictions into existing AOT proceedings.
HB 1373 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to study and recommend an independent regulatory framework specifically for after-school and out-of-school time child care programs serving children aged 5 and older. The study must examine regulatory barriers faced by these programs (which currently use the same rules as early childhood centers), evaluate unique program needs like facility use, homework support, and staffing requirements, and analyze approaches from other states. The Department must consult stakeholders and submit detailed recommendations - including on staffing, facilities, safety, and licensing - by December 1, 2026. This bill does not create new regulations but mandates a study to determine if separate rules would better serve these programs.
HB 1368 (Shifra’s Act) requires Maryland public schools to provide written notice to parents when a special education service or support specified in a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) is missed, incomplete, or interrupted. Parents must receive this notice within 3 school days, including the reason for the missed service, steps the school will take to address it, and information about requesting an IEP meeting. The law applies specifically to services required daily (after 5 missed instances in 10 days), scheduled services (after missed instances exceeding twice the specified period), or patterns substantially limiting service delivery. This notice requirement aims to ensure transparency and prompt resolution of service gaps for students with disabilities.
HB 1231 expands eligibility for two Maryland higher education grant programs to include Washington County homeschool students and students at nonpublic secondary schools. The bill amends definitions in Maryland law to explicitly include these students in the terms "dually enrolled student" and "full-time equivalent enrollment." This change allows them to qualify for the Part-Time Grant Program and the Early College Access Grant, which previously only covered students from public schools. The legislation updates specific sections of the Education Article (5-201(g), 15-127, 18-1401, and 18-14A-01) to reflect these eligibility changes.
HB 1334, the Maryland Public Education Parental Partnership Act, requires each county board of education to create a written parent and family engagement policy by the start of the 2027-2028 school year. This policy must include parental input, provide translation services, and outline how schools will collaborate with families. Additionally, starting in the 2028-2029 school year, every public school must develop a Parent-School Compact detailing shared responsibilities - such as school curriculum quality, parental support for learning, teacher qualifications, and regular communication between parents and staff. The bill directly affects all Maryland public school systems and their families by mandating structured, written frameworks for parental involvement.
HB 1417, the Maryland Constitutional Carry Act, repeals Maryland’s requirement for a permit to carry a handgun in public. It removes the need for a permit (previously required under Title 5, Subtitle 3 of the Public Safety Article) and eliminates age restrictions for carrying (previously prohibiting those under 21 from carrying handguns). The bill allows most adults to carry handguns openly or concealed without a permit, though it maintains existing restrictions on carrying on school property, with intent to harm, or with a loaded firearm. Key provisions are updated in the Criminal Law Article (Sections 4-101(b) and 4-203), adding a new allowance for carrying "as a reasonable precaution against apprehended danger" while preserving other prohibitions. This directly affects all Maryland residents who are not prohibited from owning firearms.
HB 1471 creates a new process for Maryland consumers who believe debt was incurred due to identity theft. It requires creditors to pause all collection efforts for 30 days after receiving a certified written notice with supporting evidence (like police reports). If the creditor confirms the debt is identity theft, they must permanently stop collection, dismiss related lawsuits, and remove the debt from credit reports. Consumers can also file a civil lawsuit in court with a jury trial option if the creditor fails to comply.
HB 1313 would exempt incarcerated individuals in Maryland from paying tuition at public colleges and universities, directly affecting those enrolled in higher education programs within correctional facilities. The bill requires incarcerated individuals to apply for non-loan financial aid (like grants), which must first cover their tuition costs; the exemption then applies to any remaining tuition after aid is applied. It does not cover student loans and applies regardless of other scholarships or grants received. The exemption takes effect July 1, 2026, for all public higher education institutions in Maryland.
HB 1499 increases the maximum deposit a home improvement contractor can require before signing a contract from one-third to one-half (50%) of the total contract price. This change directly affects home improvement contractors and consumers who enter into such contracts in Maryland. The bill amends Maryland's Business Regulation law (Section 8-617) to allow contractors to collect larger upfront payments. The new limit takes effect on October 1, 2026. The bill does not change other requirements for home improvement contracts.
HB 1397 requires Maryland's Interagency Commission on School Construction to include dedicated square footage for aquatic facilities (like pools) in schools' Gross Area Baseline calculations for funding. It mandates that every local school system develop a facilities plan by the start of the 2026-2027 school year, outlining options for student access to aquatic facilities. The Commission must collaborate with each school system to create these plans. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly impacting how school construction funding is calculated and allocated for aquatic facilities.
