SB 144 modifies Maryland's Public Information Act to clarify that certain records of elected officials (like misconduct investigation records) are not considered "personnel records" and thus subject to public disclosure. It also establishes specific conditions under which records of the State Ethics Commission and Joint Ethics Committee become publicly accessible, such as when an elected official consents or the committee votes to release them. The bill directly affects elected officials, the public seeking transparency, and ethics oversight bodies by changing access rules for sensitive records. Key provisions include removing confidentiality for ethics-related complaints when consent is given and requiring the Joint Ethics Committee to disclose certain conflict-of-interest forms. These changes aim to balance privacy concerns with public access to government ethics processes.
SB 273 expands eligibility for Maryland's Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program to include individuals currently eligible for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Chapter 35 Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Benefit. This change directly affects family members of veterans or military personnel who qualify for Chapter 35 benefits but were previously excluded from the scholarship program. The bill adds a new verification method: applicants can submit a copy of their Chapter 35 eligibility certificate, or school officials can verify their Chapter 35 status if a certificate is unavailable. These updates simplify the process for qualifying individuals to access the scholarship, which supports education costs for dependents of military personnel, veterans, 9/11 survivors, and school employees injured or killed in line of duty.
SB 235 requires Baltimore County's governing body to establish property tax credits for homes owned by public safety officers and Baltimore County public school employees. The bill mandates that the county create specific rules for the credit amount, duration, eligibility, and application process through local law. It directly affects these two groups of public employees by potentially reducing their county property tax burden. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.
HB 93 requires home builders to provide clear, standardized information about model homes and purchase contracts to prospective buyers. Specifically, builders must give a written document listing all upgrades in a model home and their costs, plus the base price and square footage, and display a visible sign at the model home with the same details. At contract signing, builders must provide a full list of available upgrades and their costs, and buyers gain a 3-day right to rescind the contract for any reason. The law directly affects home builders constructing model homes and prospective home buyers purchasing new homes in Maryland.
HB 314 requires large Maryland employers (100+ employees who reduced their workforce by at least 10 due to automation) to report annual data on automation use and job losses starting in 2028. These employers must pay a $900 assessment per displaced employee (adjusted annually for inflation) to fund the Displaced Employee Retraining Fund. The fund supports retraining for workers separated from jobs due to automation technology, excluding voluntary departures or facility closures. Employers can reduce payments by 50% if they provide severance, retraining opportunities, or help place workers with smaller local employers.
HB 545 creates a new role for real estate professionals in Maryland: "transaction brokers" who facilitate residential home sales or leases without representing either the buyer/seller or landlord/tenant. It allows licensed brokers, associate brokers, or salespersons to act as transaction brokers only when all parties sign a written consent form explaining they won't have traditional agency duties and may want separate representation. The State Real Estate Commission must develop a standard consent form using plain language, clear formatting, and common terms. This applies to single-family homes, small multi-unit properties, and residentially zoned land, but not short-term leases under 125 days.
HB 453 establishes the Insufficient Condominium Reserve Account Grant Fund to provide grants to low-income condominium owners (defined as households earning ≤80% of area median income) who face increased assessments needed to meet reserve account requirements. The fund, which automatically earns interest and continues year-to-year, covers these costs directly and prioritizes applicants aged 65 or older. Condominium associations must report annual reserve balance updates to the Department of Housing and Community Development for grant recipients. This policy change directly affects qualifying condominium residents and associations in Maryland, ensuring financial assistance without replacing other funding sources.
HB 61 modifies Maryland law to exclude institutions of postsecondary education (like colleges and universities) from being classified as "student financing companies" for regulatory purposes. This change removes these schools from certain registration and reporting requirements that apply to entities offering student loans. Specifically, it amends definitions in the Education and Financial Institutions articles to clarify that colleges/universities providing student financing are not subject to these financial regulations. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 657 amends Maryland's requirements for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure. It increases the minimum practical work experience needed from 1,000 to 2,000 hours for most applicants (previously 1,000 hours before October 1, 2000, but now standardized at 2,000 hours for all new applicants), and adds a 4,000-hour option for specific licensure paths. The bill also updates educational pathways, requiring either a master's degree in accounting plus one year experience, a bachelor's degree plus 30 additional accounting credits plus one year experience, or a bachelor's degree with an accounting concentration plus two years experience. These changes apply to individuals seeking initial CPA licensure in Maryland and take effect October 1, 2026.
SB 210 transfers responsibility for monitoring and security of Maryland's home detention programs from Correctional Services to the Warrant Apprehension Unit within the Department of Public Safety. It directly affects individuals participating in home detention programs, requiring their supervision to be conducted by this law enforcement unit using electronic monitoring and direct contact. Key provisions authorize unit employees to execute search warrants, make arrests for program violations, and exercise peace officer powers under specific training and qualification standards. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, restructuring oversight without creating new eligibility criteria or penalties.
HB 257 requires Maryland counties and municipalities (referred to as "subdivisions") to conduct flood-related watershed studies for designated priority watersheds by 2028, with updates every five years. The bill mandates these studies to map flooding risks for 10-, 25-, 100-, 500-, and 1,000-year flood events under current and future development, precipitation, and sea level rise scenarios. It establishes a grant program allowing the Department of the Environment to fund these studies, with specific limits on grant amounts. The studies must evaluate impacts on existing structures, roads, and stormwater systems, and propose flood-reduction strategies to guide future development and infrastructure planning.
SB 220 modifies Maryland's lifetime supervision requirements for certain convicted sexual offenders. It applies to individuals convicted of specific offenses against minors (like crimes committed against children under 13 or 16 years old), sexual violent predators, or those required to register under existing law. Key provisions include mandating GPS tracking, restricting proximity to schools or minors, requiring treatment programs, and imposing penalties for violations (misdemeanor for first offense, felony for repeat offenses with up to 10 years in prison). The bill also establishes a process allowing offenders to petition for discharge after five years of compliance with supervision terms.
