HB 161 requires Maryland's State Department of Education and Department of Health to create a comprehensive health education framework covering topics like mental health, substance abuse prevention, gender identity, and HIV/AIDS education. Each county board of education must then develop age-appropriate curricula aligned with this framework and establish procedures allowing parents to opt their children out of "Family Life and Human Sexuality" lessons (but not HIV/AIDS prevention content). The bill mandates county boards to form committees including community members to review curriculum materials and submit annual compliance reports to the state by June 15 each year. These changes apply directly to public school students, parents/guardians, and county education boards across Maryland.
SB 267 modifies Maryland's election law to change when petitions for new political parties can be filed and to prevent resubmitting rejected signatures. It restricts filing to specific periods: during the year of a presidential election (excluding closed registration times), during the year of a gubernatorial election (excluding the same closed periods), and during special election periods. Crucially, it prohibits resubmitting signatures from any petition previously rejected for not meeting legal requirements. This directly affects individuals or groups seeking to form new political parties in Maryland. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 538 transfers administration of Maryland's Federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) from the Secretary of Aging to the Family Investment Administration within the Department of Human Services. The bill updates state law to designate the Family Investment Administration as the central agency managing CSFP using federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (under 7 C.F.R. 247). It repeals the existing requirement that the Secretary of Aging administer the program, streamlining oversight under the Department of Human Services. This change directly affects how CSFP services - providing food packages to low-income pregnant women, infants, and children - are coordinated within the state government. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB 586 updates Maryland's election judge compensation rules. It requires local election boards to pay for required training courses only after judges actually serve on election day or early voting day, not before. The bill sets minimum daily pay at $250 for new judges and $350 for returning judges (which is $100 more per day), with the state reimbursing local boards for $50 of the extra amount paid to returning judges. Public school students serving as election judges can also earn service-learning hours toward graduation while receiving the standard compensation.
SB 842 authorizes the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission or police to seize electronic smoking devices and other tobacco products sold illegally without a warrant. It requires wholesalers of electronic smoking devices to obtain a new license and maintain detailed records of their products. The bill also establishes procedures for notifying owners of seized items, handling claims for return, and mandating that destroyed items be documented with specifics like quantity, reason for seizure, and destruction method. These changes directly affect electronic smoking device wholesalers, the Commission, and law enforcement in enforcing tobacco product sales regulations.
SB 666 requires Maryland's Governor to include specific annual funding amounts in the state budget for community action agencies (CAAs) serving low-income residents, for fiscal years 2027 through 2032. The bill mandates $500,000 for 2027-2028, $1 million for 2029, $3 million for 2030, $5 million for 2031, and $7 million for 2032, distributed as operating grants through the Department of Housing and Community Development. CAAs - defined as governmental units or private nonprofits meeting federal designation criteria - directly benefit from this funding to support poverty-alleviation services like employment programs and closing service gaps. The bill modifies existing housing law to establish these mandatory funding levels, which expire after June 30, 2032.
SB 734 amends Maryland law to clarify that self-service storage facilities (such as businesses renting individual storage units to customers) are excluded from the legal definition of "storage warehouse." This change removes the requirement for these facilities to obtain a "storage warehouse license" under current licensing rules. The bill revises Sections 17-1201 and 17-1202 of the Annotated Code of Maryland to explicitly exclude self-service storage from the definition and takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB 185 modifies the fiscal years when the Governor must include a $3.7 million annual appropriation for Maryland's Therapeutic Child Care Grant Program in the state budget. The bill does not change the program's funding distribution rules, which require $1.283 million for existing providers, $1.917 million for expanded services, and $500,000 for new or additional provider enrollment. This affects the state's budget process and child care providers serving children under six with developmental delays, physical disabilities, or behavioral challenges. The change adjusts the timeline for mandatory funding without altering the program's core structure or eligibility.
HB 672 requires Maryland's State Department of Education and Department of Health to annually assess school health and wellness personnel (including counselors, nurses, psychologists, and therapists) across all public schools. The assessment tracks personnel-to-student ratios, vacancy rates by role, and collects feedback on recruitment and retention strategies from school systems and health departments. It also expands the Maryland Council on Advancement of School-Based Health Centers by adding a school nurse representative to its 16 voting members. Reports on these findings must be submitted to the General Assembly each December starting in 2027. The bill directly affects school districts, health centers, and the 10 designated health professional roles listed in the law.
SB 89 requires the Maryland Department of the Environment to establish a process where professional boards under its oversight must add a veteran status notation to licenses or certificates for applicants who voluntarily provide documentation (like a DD-214 or VA certification). This notation allows the state to electronically share relevant applicant information with veteran benefits agencies to assist in determining eligibility for state and federal veterans benefits. The bill directly affects veterans applying for environment-related professional licenses (e.g., environmental engineers, health specialists) who consent to the notation. It creates a standardized, voluntary mechanism for connecting license holders with benefits programs without altering existing benefits. The process becomes effective October 1, 2025.
HB 691, the Tax Relief and State Personnel Equality for Service Members Act, redefines "uniformed services" to include the Public Health Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), extending veteran benefits to their members who meet federal veteran criteria. The bill amends Maryland's tax, pension, and personnel laws to apply the same rules to all uniformed services - not just the armed forces - ensuring equal access to state benefits like tax relief and retirement programs. It specifically updates definitions in the Maryland Code to include these service members in state programs previously limited to military veterans. This directly affects service members in non-military uniformed services and state agencies administering veteran benefits.
SB 257 changes how Maryland's State Board of Elections notifies voters on the permanent absentee ballot list before elections. It requires sending a notice 120 days before an election (replacing the previous date-based requirement), confirming the voter's status, address, ballot delivery method, and reminding them to update contact information if it changes. The notice must include a statement for voters to return it if they no longer live at the address. If the chosen contact method (mail, email, or text) fails, the Board must attempt to contact the voter using another method on file. This affects all Maryland voters who have chosen permanent absentee voting.
