Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1639: Town of Forest Heights - Speed Monitoring Systems - Maryland Route 210 PG 324-26

This bill authorizes the Town of Forest Heights to install and operate two speed monitoring cameras on Maryland Route 210 between the Interstate 95/495 interchange and the intersection of Kerby Hill Road and Livingston Road. The legislation permits the town to use fines collected from speeding violations to cover system costs and allocate remaining funds for public safety, highway improvements, and traffic-calming projects within the community. By updating state law, the bill also formally recognizes Forest Heights as a local jurisdiction eligible to place speed monitoring systems on this specific stretch of road. The changes take effect on October 1, 2026, allowing the town to proceed with the installation after following required public notice and hearing procedures.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1632: Anthony McCarthy Task Force to Study Dialysis Outcomes

This bill establishes the Anthony McCarthy Task Force to Study Dialysis Outcomes in Maryland, creating a temporary committee to evaluate and improve care for kidney dialysis patients. The task force will include two senators, two delegates, state health officials, medical specialists in urology and nephrology, and two individuals with personal dialysis experience. Its main duties involve assessing current patient outcomes and researching ways to enhance care, such as expanding home dialysis options, creating training programs for home care aides, establishing grants for home modifications and food assistance, and launching public education campaigns. The committee must submit its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by May 31, 2027, and the bill will automatically expire on June 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1640: Energy-Related Programs, Surcharges, and Taxes (Maryland Energy Savings Guarantee Act)

This bill would eliminate several environmental and energy-related fees, taxes, and programs currently included on Maryland electric and gas utility bills. It directly affects residential customers, small businesses, and commercial customers by removing charges related to the electric universal service program, energy efficiency plans, renewable energy standards, building efficiency requirements, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Key provisions prohibit utility companies from adding specific surcharges or riders to retail bills and require the state to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The legislation also repeals various sections of state law governing these programs and taxes across multiple articles of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1635: Correctional Services - Detention by Private Entities - Prohibition

This bill prohibits Maryland government entities and contractors from entering into agreements to detain individuals in facilities owned, managed, or operated by private companies. It also bars state and local governments from paying for, subsidizing, or providing financial incentives related to the construction, operation, or management of privately run detention facilities. The law defines detention facilities broadly to include correctional, immigration, and other facilities used to detain people, while still allowing private companies to provide ancillary services like education, medical care, and maintenance. Additionally, the bill prevents government agencies from approving zoning variances or permits for buildings intended for private detention use, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1636: Primary and Secondary Schools - Discipline-Related Data - Collection and Publication

This Maryland bill requires the State Department of Education to collect and publish discipline-related data for all public and nonpublic schools, including charter schools, special education programs, and specialized schools for students with visual or hearing impairments. The law mandates that schools with high suspension rates for specific student subgroups - defined by race, ethnicity, gender, disability, socioeconomic status, grade level, or English language proficiency - create action plans to address disproportional disciplinary practices. Schools are considered high-suspending if they suspend 10% or more of elementary students or 25% or more of secondary students within any subgroup, and the Department will use a risk ratio threshold of 2.0 to identify schools where removal rates for certain groups are disproportionately high compared to the state average. All discipline data will be made publicly available in a searchable, usable format on the Department's website, allowing parents and communities to review suspension statistics by school level and subgroup.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1629: Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs - Discharge of Patients and Referral Services - Standards

This bill directs the Maryland Department of Health to create regulations ensuring that drug and alcohol treatment programs discharge patients only when it is appropriate for their mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis. It specifically prohibits discharging patients who would become homeless or need residential care, while requiring programs to refer such individuals to halfway houses or recovery residences if they agree to that level of care. The legislation also mandates that treatment programs establish referral agreements for medical, mental health, legal, and social services within three working days after creating an individualized treatment plan, and ensures these agreements remain valid even if a patient is discharged. These standards apply to medium-intensity and high-intensity residential treatment programs in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1638: Consumer Protection - Covered Platforms - Protection of Minors (Kids Online Protection and Antigrooming Act)

This bill requires online platforms, video games, messaging apps, and streaming services to implement privacy-focused default settings and allow parents to manage their minor children's accounts. It defines "covered platforms" as internet-based services that facilitate user interaction, while excluding common carriers, email providers, and professional networking sites. The law specifically targets minors under 17 and gives the Attorney General authority to enforce compliance, though platforms can correct violations before facing penalties.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1641: Civil Actions - District Court - Enforcement of Money Judgments

This bill removes a restriction that currently prevents Maryland District Courts from ordering individuals to appear for examinations or answer written questions when enforcing small claims money judgments. The change applies specifically to cases arising under Maryland's small claims court system and allows judges to use these tools to help collect owed money. By repealing the existing prohibition, the legislation expands the methods available to courts for enforcing financial judgments without changing the underlying rules for small claims cases. The law will take effect on October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1633: Retail Supply of Electricity and Gas (Energy Savings Act of 2026)

This bill removes licensing requirements for energy salespeople and vendors who sell electricity and gas to residential customers in Maryland. It also eliminates the Public Service Commission's authority to discipline these suppliers and adjusts the civil penalties for violations. The legislation abolishes a specific division within the Commission and transfers certain employees to other departments. Additionally, it repeals several reporting requirements for electricity suppliers and removes restrictions on offering and selling certain energy supply services.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1637: State Designations - State Amphibian - Long-Tailed Salamander

This bill designates the long-tailed salamander as Maryland's official state amphibian. It directly affects the state by formally recognizing this specific species under state law. The legislation adds a new section to the Annotated Code of Maryland that explicitly names the long-tailed salamander as the state amphibian. The bill also renumbers existing state code sections to accommodate this new designation. The changes take effect on October 1, 2026.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1642: Higher Education - Transformative Economic Efficiency - Framework and Standards

This bill directs Maryland's Higher Education Commission to create a framework for transformative economic efficiency, which focuses on measurable improvements in economic performance, resource use, and health risk prevention through education and research. The Commission must develop independent consensus-based standards collaboratively with universities, research institutions, and subject matter experts, using independent research and verification methods. These standards must be posted on the Commission's website and updated regularly to encourage continuous improvement in higher education practices. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to institutions of higher education and community-based research institutions in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1489: Criminal Procedure - Motion to Reduce Duration of Sentence - Eligibility (Vincent Anthony Fisher III Act)

HB 1489, the "Vincent Anthony Fisher III Act," allows certain incarcerated individuals to seek sentence reductions by modifying eligibility rules for motions to reduce sentence duration. It applies to two groups: (1) people convicted as adults for crimes committed as minors (with at least 20 years served and no life without parole), and (2) those convicted between ages 18-25 (with at least 20 years served, not a sex offender, and not convicted of specific violent offenses like murder of first responders or certain vehicular homicides). Courts must hold hearings considering factors like the person’s age at the offense, rehabilitation efforts, victim impact statements, and whether the individual poses a public safety risk. If the court finds the person is not a danger and justice requires it, it may reduce the sentence.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results