Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

HB 1159: Public Health and Health Insurance - Access to Abortion Care - Reporting Requirements

HB 1159 modifies reporting requirements related to abortion care in Maryland. It requires the Department of Health to include specific recommendations in its annual report on the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program to address provider shortages, and mandates the Insurance Commissioner to collect annual data from insurers on funds set aside under federal law (Affordable Care Act) for abortion services. This data must be submitted by January 1 each year to the Senate Finance and House Health committees, covering the previous two calendar years. The bill affects health departments, insurers, and legislative committees, focusing on transparency around abortion care funding and training programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

HB 1566: Real Property - Deeds of Trust - Recordation of Assignments

HB 1566 clarifies that the actual holder of a promissory note secured by a deed of trust has full rights under that deed, even if land records list a different holder. It directly affects mortgage lenders, borrowers, and property owners in Maryland by ensuring the true note holder - not just the person recorded as holder - can enforce the deed of trust. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly state this, preventing confusion during loan assignments or sales. This change ensures the note holder’s rights are protected regardless of land record entries, streamlining property transactions. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

HB 1124: Commercial Law - Consumer Protections - Health Care Financing

HB 1124 establishes new rules for healthcare financing in Maryland, directly affecting healthcare providers (like clinics and doctors' offices) and patients. It requires providers to give clear written disclosures about payment plans before discussing them and prohibits providers from applying for financing on a patient's behalf or promoting payment options during certain treatments (like under anesthesia). The bill also mandates full refunds within 15 days if services aren't provided and bans billing third-party financiers more than 30 days before a procedure. Providers may only offer payment plans for out-of-pocket costs like copays when insurance covers the main service.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

HB 1586: Protective Orders - Coercive Control

HB 1586 adds "coercive control" to Maryland's definition of abuse for protective order petitions, specifically for adults experiencing psychological manipulation. It defines coercive control as patterns of behavior including isolating victims from support networks, depriving them of basic needs, controlling finances or movements, or using threats (including about immigration status) to force compliance. This allows individuals in abusive relationships - where physical violence may not occur - to seek protective orders based on these non-physical tactics. The bill updates existing Family Law sections (4-501 and 4-504) to include these specific examples of coercive control as grounds for relief.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

HB 1608: Public Safety - Firearms - Storage Requirements

HB 1608 requires firearm owners (defined as "authorized users") to store firearms in a locked, tamper-resistant container ("secure storage depository") when not carrying the firearm or under direct control. It directly affects individuals who store firearms in locations accessible to minors, including parents or guardians. The bill amends Maryland law to mandate this secure storage, defining a "secure storage depository" as a fire- and impact-resistant container requiring a key, keypad, or combination to open. Violating this requirement - resulting in a minor accessing the firearm and causing serious injury or death - carries misdemeanor penalties with fines up to $1,000. The law does not apply during lawful self-defense, law enforcement duties, or when a minor has a valid firearm safety certificate.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2026

HB 555: Code Revision - Higher Education - Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program

HB 555 is a procedural bill that reorganizes the legal text of Maryland's Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program. It renumbers existing sections of the law (moving sections 18-1503 through 18-1506 to 18-1506 through 18-1509) and clarifies eligibility language without changing who qualifies or the program's benefits. The program directly assists Maryland graduates (including veterans, mental health counselors, veterinarians, and education professionals) who work in state service or high-need areas by helping repay their higher education loans. This bill only updates how the rules are written in state law, with no new eligibility criteria or funding changes.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 1006: Maryland State Flag Protection Act

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to permanently define Maryland's state flag as the version adopted in 1904, which features the Calvert and Crossland family coats of arms. The legislation would update state laws to align with this constitutional definition and remove previous statutory language about the flag. If approved by voters in the November 2026 election, the change would make the 1904 flag design the official state symbol under the Maryland Constitution. The bill does not alter the flag's appearance but clarifies its legal status and ensures future consistency in how the flag is recognized.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 9, 2026

HB 987: Public Safety - Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Fund - Alterations (Community Safety and Intervention Funding Act)

HB 987 increases the minimum annual funding for Maryland’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Program Fund from $3 million to $10 million starting fiscal year 2028. It establishes new geographic allocation rules: 40% of funds must go to Baltimore City and County, 40% to Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, and the remainder to other jurisdictions disproportionately affected by violence. The bill directly affects local governments and nonprofits administering violence prevention programs across Maryland by changing how funding is distributed. Key provisions clarify the fund’s composition (including state appropriations and investment earnings) and require the Governor to include the $10 million minimum in annual budget bills. The changes aim to standardize funding based on regional violence levels and application strength.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 751: Vehicle Laws – Required Security – Exemption of Farm Area Motor Vehicles

SB 751 exempts "farm area motor vehicles" from Maryland's standard vehicle security requirements. Specifically, it defines these vehicles as those owned by farmers and operated only on their farm or within a 25-mile radius, removing them from rules requiring proof of security (like insurance or registration documents) when used for farm-related purposes. The bill amends Maryland’s Transportation Code to clarify this exemption in Sections 13-935 and 17-102, directly affecting farmers who operate vehicles within this defined radius. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 815: Correctional Services – Maryland Correctional Enterprises – Report

SB 815 requires Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), working with a Maryland university, to study prison industry programs in Maine, Ohio, Kansas, and California. The bill mandates an interim progress report by December 1, 2026, and a final report with improvement recommendations for Maryland Correctional Enterprises (MCE) by December 1, 2027. These recommendations must focus on enhancing MCE programs to support successful prisoner reentry. The bill expires automatically on December 31, 2027, without needing further legislative action.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 950: Conversion Therapy - Prohibitions and Causes of Action

SB 950 prohibits licensed mental health providers from performing or advertising conversion therapy (efforts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity). It allows victims to file malpractice lawsuits for psychological harm caused by such therapy, removes limits on noneconomic damages in these cases, and bans providers from making false claims about conversion therapy. The bill also requires insurers covering such providers to charge a surcharge, with funds directed to a special fund supporting victims' claims. This directly affects therapy patients, mental health providers, and insurance companies in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 912: Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program - Exemption for Vehicles Formerly Registered as Historic

SB 912 exempts certain historic vehicles from Maryland's mandatory emissions inspections. It applies specifically to vehicles that were registered as historic under Maryland law before July 1, 2025, but lost that status solely due to a 2025 law change (Chapter 604). Owners must certify the vehicle’s prior historic registration date to qualify for the exemption. The bill modifies existing emissions inspection rules (Maryland Code, Transportation Article § 23-206.2) to create this specific exception, effective July 1, 2026. This directly affects owners of qualifying historic vehicles who would otherwise face inspection requirements.

Topics ✗ Environment

Bill results