HB 1505 expands Maryland’s existing loan repayment and scholarship programs to include correctional officers. It amends two programs: the "Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Police Officers, Probation Agents, and Correctional Officers" (for repaying education loans) and the "Maryland Police Officers, Probation Agents, and Correctional Officers Scholarship Program" (for tuition assistance). Correctional officers who work in state correctional facilities for at least 2 years (for loan repayment) or commit to 5 years of service (for scholarships) become eligible. The bill directly affects current and future correctional officers pursuing or completing degrees in Maryland. It does not create new funding but extends existing benefits to this workforce.
HB 1329 sets a new annual funding target of $550 million for Maryland public school construction beginning in fiscal year 2027, replacing the previous $450 million target for 2023-2026. It directs the state to maintain a relatively stable number of funded projects in the Capital Improvement Program within debt affordability guidelines. The bill explicitly states this $550 million target does not include funding from the Built to Learn Program. This change affects all public school construction projects eligible for state capital funding under the Capital Improvement Program.
HB 1278 establishes the Maryland Positive Youth Development Commission within the State Department of Education and creates a nonlapsing Maryland Positive Youth Development Fund. The Commission will award grants to eligible organizations (including community groups, schools, and local governments) providing evidence-based programming outside regular school hours for youth aged 0-25. The Fund, which will use settlement proceeds and other revenue, requires interest earnings to be credited back to the Fund. Programs must include adult mentors, family engagement, and activities promoting social-emotional skills to address concerns about social media's impact on youth well-being.
HB 1125 requires Maryland state agencies planning major capital projects (over $2 million in cost or exceeding 75 feet in height) to develop community engagement plans and conduct outreach within a 1-mile radius of the project site. Agencies must provide plain-language project summaries, hold public meetings with virtual options, mail notices 45 days before key decisions, and allow 30-day public comment periods. They must submit annual reports detailing outreach efforts and public feedback to the Department of Budget by October 1, with the Department compiling and sharing these reports with lawmakers and impacted communities by December 1. This applies to projects on state-owned property or funded with state money, excluding certain grant programs and local legislative initiatives.
HB 1382 prohibits Maryland state procurement officers from requiring bidders or contractors to certify they are not boycotting foreign countries as a condition of bidding or contracting. It specifically amends procurement laws to ban such certification requirements in bid proposals (Section 13-212.2) and contract terms (Section 13-230), reversing a prior executive order related to boycotts of Israel. The bill affects all state agencies, contractors, and bidders involved in Maryland procurement processes. State agencies must update procurement policies by June 1, 2027, and revise conflicting contracts, with the law taking effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1072 establishes a procurement preference for vendors located in Maryland's 6th Legislative District for state contracts related solely to the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction. It requires state agencies to award contracts using competitive bidding to a local vendor if they submit the lowest valid bid or, if not the lowest, their bid is within 10% of the lowest bid. This rule applies only to bridge reconstruction projects and does not affect general state procurement. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 1492 establishes the right to strike for specific public school and library employees in Maryland, including certificated and noncertificated staff like substitute teachers, nurses, and JROTC instructors in certain counties. The bill prohibits public school and library employers from taking disciplinary action against employees who participate in or support strikes. It repeals the Public Employee Relations Board’s authority to deny or revoke a union’s certification as an exclusive bargaining representative under certain circumstances. These changes apply to defined groups of employees under Maryland’s Education Article, ensuring their collective bargaining rights are protected from employer retaliation.
HB 1079 creates Maryland's Office of Regulatory Management to streamline state government processes. It requires all executive branch agencies to report on their regulatory permits, licenses, and certifications by December 2026, including processing times, fees, and online capabilities. Agencies must also develop strategies by December 2026 to reduce regulatory requirements by 25% and simplify application processes, aiming to cut approval times for permits and licenses. The bill directly affects state government agencies, not the public, and mandates annual reports starting July 2027 on upcoming regulatory changes.
HB 1570 requires Maryland state government agencies to develop and periodically review operational, technical, and procedural standards using specific methods. It mandates that agencies rely on transparent, reproducible data; incorporate stakeholder input and best practices; avoid biased technical experts; and consider economic efficiency, scientific standards, and cultural practices. The bill also requires agencies to use independent third-party reviews for disputes and utilize decision-support algorithms (computer tools for decision-making). This applies to all state government units creating standards, such as those in health, transportation, or education departments. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1271 establishes the Maryland Reparations Fund as a permanent fund to provide grants to people impacted by historic inequality. It creates a Reparations Board (appointed by legislative leaders and the governor) to study reparations and recommend grant programs. The bill imposes an excise tax on nonpublic institutions (like private universities) with endowments above a set threshold, requiring all tax revenue to fund the Reparations Fund. This directly affects large-endowment institutions through the tax obligation and historically marginalized communities through the grant program. The fund’s interest earnings will also remain within the fund, not flowing to the state general fund.
HB 1416 requires state government agencies and recipients of state funding for electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment to set specific minority business enterprise participation targets for contracts involving EV charging equipment supply and installation. It modifies Maryland’s procurement code to mandate that for these contracts, agencies must establish a participation goal equivalent to their overall minority business target, rather than applying a general rate. The bill also directs the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs to create goals and procedures for this specific program, with recipients required to submit reports on compliance. This applies directly to state agencies and entities receiving state funds for EV infrastructure projects, aiming to increase minority-owned business involvement in a growing sector.
HB 1500 requires Maryland state agencies to finalize regulations implementing a program before collecting any fees under that program. It directly affects state agencies that collect fees for programs authorized by law, such as licensing or permitting services. The bill's key provision states agencies cannot collect fees until they have completed the regulatory adoption process. This change takes effect October 1, 2026, ensuring fees are only collected once rules are formally established. The law applies to all state programs requiring regulatory implementation under Maryland law.
