HB 669 prohibits political subdivisions (like counties or cities) from issuing use and occupancy permits to developers or contractors completing road work on State highways with over 25,000 average daily vehicles until the work is approved by both the State Highway Administration and the political subdivision. The bill amends Maryland law to require that all third-party road improvements on high-traffic state roads meet the satisfaction of both the State Highway Administration and the local political subdivision before permits are granted. Key mechanisms include requiring performance bonds for projects over $100,000, funded partly by private money, or located outside the applicant’s property. This directly affects developers and contractors performing road work on major state highways, ensuring completed improvements meet safety and quality standards before public use.
SB 879 allows Baltimore City to join other Maryland jurisdictions where deer hunting on Sundays is permitted during the bow hunting season. The bill amends Maryland’s Natural Resources code to explicitly include Baltimore City in the list of areas where hunters may hunt deer on Sundays, removing a previous restriction. It also adds Baltimore City to the list of areas requiring archery hunters to maintain safety zones around certain structures. This change directly affects hunters in Baltimore City and modifies existing hunting regulations without altering seasonal dates or other hunting methods. The bill focuses on updating specific legal language to permit Sunday deer hunting and clarify archery safety requirements in the city.
SB 789 requires automotive repair facilities performing advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) recalibrations - such as those needed after windshield replacement - to obtain a license from Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration. It mandates that facilities inform customers if ADAS recalibration is required, provide written confirmation that work meets manufacturer specs, and prohibits facilities from charging for unperformed services. The bill also bans insurance companies from withholding ADAS repair information in estimates and makes violations of these rules unfair trade practices under Maryland's Consumer Protection Act. This directly affects repair shops, insurance providers, and vehicle owners by standardizing ADAS recalibration procedures and increasing transparency in repair costs.
SB 849 requires farmers who buy new agricultural equipment (like tractors or harvesters, excluding lawn mowers and small vehicles under 25 horsepower) to provide written notice of equipment problems to manufacturers or dealers. It mandates that manufacturers or dealers correct issues within 30 days at no cost to the consumer, even after the warranty period ends. If repairs fail after reasonable attempts, consumers can choose a replacement or refund. The law applies to equipment purchased after January 1, 2026, and treats violations as unfair trade practices under Maryland’s consumer protection laws.
HB 1083 increases Montgomery County's Board of Elections from five to seven regular members, adjusting the partisan balance to four majority-party members and three minority-party members (previously three and two). This change directly affects how the county's election board is structured and appointed under Maryland law. The bill modifies Section 2-201 of the Annotated Code of Maryland to implement this membership shift, requiring the Governor to appoint members following the new partisan distribution. It does not alter voting procedures, election administration, or other operational aspects of the board.
SB 564 creates a new Division of Data Protection within Maryland’s Office of the Attorney General. This division will investigate and enforce civil actions for violations of existing data privacy laws affecting businesses and consumers. It also establishes a Maryland Data Privacy Implementation and Innovation Workgroup, composed of state officials, consumer advocates, business representatives, and industry experts, to study implementation challenges and recommend improvements. The Workgroup must report its findings to the governor and legislature by January 1, 2027, and the bill’s provisions take effect on July 1, 2026, with the Workgroup structure expiring June 30, 2027.
SB 605, the Broadband Accountability and Affordability Act, gives Maryland's Public Service Commission new authority to oversee broadband and VoIP services. It requires internet service providers (ISPs) to submit data on network reliability, outages, emergency plans, and pricing, and mandates the Commission to assess if these plans meet standards for resilience and safety. The Commission can conduct audits or require ISPs to fix issues if services are deemed unsafe or unreliable, and must report annually to the legislature on progress. This directly affects ISPs operating in Maryland and aims to improve the quality and reliability of broadband and VoIP services for consumers.
HB 1037 (Broadband Accountability and Affordability Act) gives Maryland's Public Service Commission authority to oversee broadband and internet-based phone service (VoIP), which it previously could not regulate. The bill requires Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to report on network reliability, outages, pricing, and emergency preparedness plans, and to maintain infrastructure meeting safety and reliability standards. The Commission can audit providers and order corrective actions if services are deemed unsafe, unreliable, or inadequate. ISPs must submit annual reports on progress, with the Commission reporting to the legislature each year starting in 2028 on improvements in service quality and network resilience.
SB 90 adds hypertension to Maryland's list of occupational diseases presumed to be work-related for specific emergency responders. It makes firefighters, fire fighting instructors, rescue squad members, advanced life support unit members, and State Fire Marshal personnel eligible for workers' compensation benefits if they have hypertension diagnosed by a provider, experience it for at least 90 consecutive days, have at least 2 years of cumulative service in those roles, and are currently employed in those positions. This creates a legal presumption that the hypertension is work-related, eliminating the need to prove direct causation, while clarifying that individuals cannot receive both workers' compensation and disability retirement benefits for the same hypertension condition. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 256 updates Maryland's licensing framework for landscape architects by renaming the governing body from the "State Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects" to the "State Board of Professional Landscape Architects." It revises key definitions, changing "licensed landscape architects" to "professional landscape architects" and clarifying the scope of practice. The bill also adds an "emeritus status" license option for retired professionals and adjusts requirements for board membership, applicant qualifications, exams, and license renewals. These changes primarily affect licensed landscape architects and applicants seeking to practice in Maryland under the updated regulatory structure.
SB 192, the Military Family Inclusion Act, modifies membership requirements for four Maryland state commissions and boards to include military family representation. It adds a "family caregiver of a service-disabled veteran" to the Commission on Caregiving, designates an "organization representing military families" as a voting member on the Trust Fund Board, and requires the Veterans Commission to include such an organization in its appointment list. The bill also adds a "service member" position to the Maryland Youth Advisory Council, appointed by the Department of Veterans and Military Families. These changes, effective October 1, 2026, adjust who serves on existing advisory bodies without creating new programs or benefits. The bill directly affects how these state boards are composed but does not alter funding or services for military families.
SB 248 modifies Maryland's investment rules for the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), specifically changing how it handles investments in businesses that no longer qualify as "qualified businesses." The bill replaces mandatory divestment requirements with an authorization allowing the MTDC to choose whether to divest or pursue other remedies (like restructuring) under certain circumstances. It updates regulations in Sections 10-408 and 10-470 of the Economic Development Article to require the MTDC to establish an investment committee process for evaluating these remedies. This directly affects the MTDC’s investment decisions and the businesses receiving its capital, without altering the 25% ownership cap on equity investments.
