Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 969: Health Insurance - Lyme Disease and Related Tick-Borne Illnesses - Long-Term Antibiotic Treatment

SB 969 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover the full duration of long-term antibiotic treatment (over 4 weeks) for Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses when ordered by a licensed physician for treatment purposes. It prohibits these entities from imposing limits on treatment length or denying coverage solely because the treatment is labeled "unproven," "experimental," or "investigational." The law applies to all health insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2027, directly affecting patients diagnosed with these conditions and their insurers. This ensures consistent coverage for extended antibiotic therapy without arbitrary restrictions based on treatment classification.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 966: Public Service Commission - Net Energy Metering - Successor Program

SB 966 requires Maryland's Public Service Commission to develop a successor program for net energy metering (NEM) when the current program reaches 3,000 megawatts of combined customer-generator capacity. The new program must incentivize distributed renewable energy (like rooftop solar), minimize long-term costs for all ratepayers, and balance fair compensation for energy exported to the grid with grid benefits and energy equity concerns. The Commission must complete this program development by December 2026, including stakeholder input, and submit a report to the legislature. The successor program will operate until total NEM capacity (current + successor) reaches 6,000 megawatts. This directly affects residential and commercial solar/wind system owners (eligible customer-generators) and electric utilities.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 976: Wicomico County - Orphans' Court Judge - Annual Salary

SB 976 increases the annual salary for the judge of Wicomico County's Orphans' Court from $11,600 to $16,000, effective July 1, 2026. The bill amends Maryland's Annotated Code (Article - Estates and Trusts, Section 2-108(v)(1)) to set this new salary amount, paid quarterly. It applies only to judges serving terms beginning after the effective date, not to current judges in office before July 1, 2026. This is a direct compensation adjustment for one specific judicial position in Wicomico County.

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 988: Judicial Facilities - Stops, Detentions, and Arrests - Limitations

SB 988 prohibits law enforcement from stopping, detaining, or arresting individuals for civil offenses (such as traffic tickets or unpaid fines) within judicial facilities (like courthouses) or within one mile of them while traveling to attend a court proceeding. Police must notify the judge beforehand and avoid disrupting court activities to stop someone for a civil matter in these areas. Evidence obtained from violating this law is inadmissible in court, and affected individuals can sue for damages or seek court orders. The Attorney General may also file lawsuits to stop ongoing violations of the law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 992: Public Utilities - Large Load Customers - Registration and Demand Response Program

SB 992 requires large commercial and industrial electricity customers (defined as those with at least 25 megawatts of monthly demand) to register with Maryland's Public Service Commission before connecting to the power grid. The registration process mandates disclosure of interconnection plans, backup power details, water usage, and financial commitments for infrastructure development. The bill also directs the Commission to establish a Demand Response Program, allowing large customers to reduce usage during peak times to support grid stability. Additionally, it updates tax exemption rules for qualifying data centers under specific circumstances.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 222: Family Law - Child Custody Evaluators - Qualifications

SB 222 establishes strict qualifications for individuals appointed by Maryland courts to conduct child custody evaluations. It requires custody evaluators to be licensed professionals (such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, or marriage and family therapists) with specific training and experience in areas like child development, domestic violence, trauma, and family dynamics. The bill mandates completion of court-approved training, ongoing continuing education, and demonstrated expertise in key topics before appointment. Courts may only waive these requirements for existing court employees with at least 14 years of prior experience who complete additional training. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 154: Commercial Law - Uniform Commercial Code - Controllable Electronic Records

SB 154 adds Article 12 to Maryland's Uniform Commercial Code to establish rules for property rights in certain digital assets, including controllable electronic records, accounts, and payment intangibles. It directly affects businesses and financial institutions handling digital transactions by defining how control and ownership transfer for these assets. The bill creates a new standard for "control" (requiring exclusive power to access benefits and transfer the asset) and ensures qualifying purchasers acquire rights free of competing claims. This changes how digital property rights are managed under Maryland law, replacing ambiguous state rules with a clear, standardized framework.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

HB 1304: Natural Resources - Fishing Without a License - Enforcement

HB 1304 requires the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to suspend commercial or recreational fishing rights for individuals who failed to renew a valid license from the previous year. First offenses result in a one-month suspension, second offenses in six months, and third or subsequent offenses in one year. During suspension, individuals may apply for a new license, but it will count toward the remaining suspension period. The bill also mandates that the Department provide written or verbal notice of the violation and penalties to those charged.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

HB 1175: Land Use - Residential Housing - Oversight, Regulation, and Taxation (Building Affordably in My Back Yard Act)

HB 1175, the "Building Affordably in My Back Yard Act," requires property owners to certify contact information to the Department of Housing annually and allows local governments to review housing development projects. It establishes housing production targets, creates simplified permitting for standardized affordable housing designs, and permits counties to adjust taxes - lowering fees for affordable projects while increasing them on non-affordable properties. The bill also mandates studies on housing infrastructure, tax disincentives for downsizing, and internal reviews of housing approval processes. These provisions directly affect property owners, local jurisdictions, counties, and housing developers across Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 987: Corporate Income Tax - Addition Modification - Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising

SB 987 modifies Maryland's corporate income tax to allow pharmaceutical companies to deduct certain direct-to-consumer advertising expenses for covered drugs. It directly affects pharmaceutical manufacturers that advertise prescription drugs directly to the public via TV, radio, social media, or digital platforms (excluding journal ads). The bill creates a new tax deduction for these advertising costs, with revenue from this modification distributed as follows: the first $5 million annually to Medicaid eligibility operations, and remaining funds to health insurance subsidy programs. This change aligns Maryland's tax treatment with federal rules while directing revenue toward health coverage affordability.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

HB 821: Judiciary Department - Judicial Removal - Disqualification From Future Judicial Office

This constitutional amendment prohibits judges or justices removed or retired for misconduct from holding any future judicial position. It directly affects judges disciplined by the Commission on Judicial Disabilities, adding a new provision that explicitly bars such individuals from future judicial office. The key mechanism requires the Supreme Court to remove or retire judges found guilty of misconduct, with the amendment ensuring these individuals lose eligibility for any subsequent judicial role. This change modifies Article IV of the Maryland Constitution and requires voter approval in the November 2026 election.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

HB 486: Public Schools - Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day - Establishment

HB 486 designates November 14 each year as "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" to honor Ruby Bridges' 1960 integration of an all-white school, and the second Wednesday in October as "Maryland School Pedestrian Awareness Day" to promote safe walking routes to schools. The Maryland State Department of Education must provide free, age-appropriate resources to all public schools, including civil rights lesson plans for Ruby Bridges Day and pedestrian safety materials like lesson plans and walk audit guides for Pedestrian Awareness Day. The bill directly affects Maryland public school systems by requiring state-provided educational tools for these designated days, starting July 1, 2026. It focuses on commemoration and safety education without mandating specific school activities.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

Bill results