SB 118 imposes a new excise tax on gross receipts from firearm, accessory, and ammunition sales by federally licensed dealers in Maryland. The tax revenue will fund specific community safety programs: 26% to violence prevention initiatives, 26% to trauma centers, 20% to community safety partnerships, and smaller portions to survivor support and trauma physician services. The bill rewrites multiple sections of Maryland law to create this tax, establish revenue distribution rules, and define key terms like "firearm" and "ammunition." It explicitly states the funding is intended to supplement, not replace, existing state funding for these programs.
HB 271 streamlines how Maryland state agencies handle minor contract changes with vendors. It allows procurement staff to approve modifications that don’t significantly alter work scope or increase costs beyond small contract thresholds (under $100,000) without higher approval. For larger changes (up to five times the small contract limit), agency heads must approve. All modifications must be documented in procurement records, improving efficiency while maintaining oversight.
HB 268 establishes a State Chief Data Officer position within Maryland’s Department of Information Technology and creates the Office of Enterprise Data to oversee state data practices. It requires all state agencies to appoint an Agency Data Officer responsible for managing agency data, ensuring privacy, sharing information securely, and complying with statewide data standards. Key provisions include annual data strategy plans, agency data inventories, standardized data-sharing protocols, and mandatory training for data officers. The law aims to improve the ethical, secure, and efficient use of state data across all government operations, effective July 1, 2026.
HB 376 authorizes Prince George's County to establish and regulate procurement preference programs for the county public school system and Prince George's Community College, aiming to increase participation by minority-owned businesses in county contracts. The bill requires the county to first conduct a fact-finding study to assess the need for such a program, and if justified, set specific goals and definitions for "minority business enterprises" (MBEs). Key mechanisms include mandatory set-asides (reserving contract portions for MBEs), bonus points for MBE bids, reduced bonding requirements, and outreach programs to support MBE participation. The county must evaluate the program biennially and report findings to the county delegation.
HB 379 allows Prince George's County to delay payment of school facilities and public safety/behavioral health surcharges on new residential construction until specific events occur. Sellers of new homes will no longer need to pay these fees upfront when applying for building permits. Instead, payment can be deferred until final inspection, occupancy permit issuance, or the first property sale after the building permit is issued. The bill modifies existing county laws to implement this deferral process without changing the surcharge amounts or requirements.
HB 383 prohibits Maryland municipalities from restricting access to the area of municipal beaches above the mean high tide line solely to residents. If passed, it would prevent towns from charging non-resident fees or requiring residency to use these public beaches. The bill applies only to beaches owned by municipalities (not state parks) and specifically targets the accessible beach area affected by tides. It takes effect October 1, 2026, requiring municipalities to allow all public access to this beach zone regardless of residency. This directly affects all beachgoers and municipal beach management policies.
HB 416 removes the existing limit of 215 Class B beer, wine, and liquor licenses in Prince George's County. This change directly affects businesses seeking these licenses in the county by eliminating a numerical cap previously set by law. The bill achieves this by repealing Section 26-1601(a)(1) of Maryland's Annotated Code, which previously specified the 215 maximum. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 318 requires the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission to accept vendors already registered with Montgomery County or Prince George’s County for procurement purposes. This eliminates the need for duplicate vendor registrations with these state commissions. Vendors seeking to work with either commission will no longer need separate registration, streamlining access to contracts. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 384 allows licensed real estate brokers, associate brokers, or salespersons in Maryland to act as "transaction brokers" in residential transactions - meaning they represent neither the buyer nor seller - only after obtaining written consent from all parties. The bill requires a standardized consent form explaining that the broker has no fiduciary duty to either party, may not disclose confidential information without permission, and that parties may seek separate representation. It applies to sales or leases of 1-4 family homes or residential-zoned land (excluding short-term leases under 125 days). The State Real Estate Commission must create and provide this plain-language consent form to all licensees.
This bill (SB 364) reorganizes existing legal code sections related to the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program without changing its core eligibility or benefits. It primarily renames and renumbers sections (e.g., moving Section 18-1503 to 18-1506) to improve clarity and structure within Maryland’s education code. The program itself continues to provide loan repayment assistance for specific professionals: Maryland graduates from state institutions, veterinary practitioners/technicians working in state or volunteering at qualifying shelters, licensed counselors in high-need areas, and education professionals (like teachers via alternative programs). The bill does not alter who qualifies or the program’s operational details - it only updates the legal formatting for consistency.
HB 323 creates a Maryland state income tax credit for residents who paid early withdrawal penalties on retirement funds due to financial exploitation. The credit covers the lesser of the state tax attributable to those penalties or the federal penalty paid, directly helping vulnerable adults (defined as older adults or those with diminished capacity due to age, disability, or health conditions) who were exploited by someone in a position of trust. It applies when exploitation involved deception, breach of fiduciary duty, or misuse of assets leading to forced early retirement fund withdrawals. This policy change provides financial relief for victims of financial exploitation by offsetting penalties they incurred.
HB 1509 requires mortgage servicers in Maryland to deposit insurance proceeds from damaged residential properties into a federally insured interest-bearing account with a minimum 2% annual rate. Borrowers must choose whether to have interest earnings credited back to the account or paid directly to them. Servicers must notify borrowers within 10 business days of receiving proceeds and disburse interest directly within 10 business days of the borrower’s election, with strict limits on fees for direct payments. The law applies to all mortgage servicers handling insurance claims for owner-occupied homes in Maryland, effective July 1, 2026, for existing claims.
