This bill requires the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to verify that the state owns railroad corridor property in fee simple through a title search before developing it for recreational use. It amends existing laws to clarify procedures for acquiring and using abandoned railroad corridors for trails, including requirements for public hearings and coordination with other state agencies. The legislation applies specifically to the Department of Natural Resources when it plans to convert abandoned rail corridors into public recreational spaces.
This bill requires Howard County public schools to close for student attendance on specific religious and cultural holidays starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The new mandatory closures include Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Lunar New Year, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Juneteenth, with only the first day of the listed holidays requiring closure. The legislation amends existing state law that currently mandates school closures for established holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and federal observances. This change applies exclusively to Howard County and does not affect other Maryland school districts. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, though the holiday closures would begin in the following school year.
HB 1038 repeals the requirement for Caroline County dog owners to renew licenses annually by July 1. It removes the specific deadline from county law (previously requiring renewal "on or before July 1 of each year"), while keeping other provisions like the 6-month age minimum, fee structure, and metal tag specifications. This directly affects dog owners in Caroline County who no longer need to meet an annual renewal date. The bill maintains existing rules for license fees, tag design (metal, serial numbers, 1-inch size), and replacement costs ($0.25), but eliminates the fixed renewal deadline.
HB 1332 prohibits Calvert County Commissioners from entering into new nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements with any other person. The bill adds Section 2-202 to Calvert County's local laws, making any such agreement void and unenforceable. Existing agreements remain valid, as the law applies only prospectively from its effective date of October 1, 2026. This bill directly affects Calvert County Commissioners' ability to sign new confidentiality terms with external parties.
SB 596 exempts large commercial or industrial electricity customers (defined as those with 25+ MW monthly demand and over 80% load factor) from needing a certificate of public convenience to connect to the grid when using surplus interconnection capacity. It establishes a new interconnection process with standard and expedited timelines, requiring these customers to cover 25% of their power needs through on-site storage, new carbon-free energy sources, or demand response. The bill also mandates a Demand Response Program where large customers can opt for scheduled load reductions during peak times in exchange for compensation, with fees from interconnection requests split between universal service and low-income energy efficiency programs.
SB 17 creates a new permit system for events related to the CIAA Basketball Tournament in Baltimore City. It requires promoters of such events to apply for a "related event promoter’s permit" from Baltimore’s Board of License Commissioners at least 30 days in advance, along with written consent from Visit Baltimore and a special event permit if needed. Caterers with state licenses must also obtain a temporary Class C event license to serve alcohol at these events. The law imposes fees ($50 application, $500-$1,000 permit) and fines ($1,000-$3,000) for operating without the required permits, affecting event promoters, caterers, and venues hosting CIAA-related gatherings. The permit is valid only for events coordinated with the CIAA tournament and expires June 30, 2029.
This bill requires county school boards in Maryland to conduct a financial audit before reappointing a county superintendent of schools, ensuring the district's financial management is evaluated for effectiveness and efficiency. The audit must be completed by the Office of Legislative Audits or an independent certified public accountant during the final year of the superintendent's term, with results submitted to the State Superintendent of Schools and made public. This provision applies to all county school systems except Baltimore City and Prince George's County, which already have different appointment procedures. The bill also maintains existing requirements that superintendents must have a college degree and two years of graduate work in public school administration to be eligible for appointment or reappointment.
This bill limits how much mobile home park owners in Maryland can increase annual rent for existing residents, generally capping increases at the lower of the national consumer price index or 4% of the previous year's rent. It establishes a formal review process where owners seeking larger increases must petition the Department of Housing and Community Development, provide documentation of extraordinary expenses like major repairs or government-mandated improvements, and allow residents to submit comments within a 45-day period. The bill also prohibits park owners from retaliating against residents who participate in homeowners associations, file complaints, or exercise their legal rights. Additionally, it defines key terms such as "mobile home," "park," "resident," and "extraordinary expense" to clarify the scope of protections.
This bill expands regulatory requirements for constructing overhead transmission lines in Maryland by requiring a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Public Service Commission for lines carrying over 69,000 volts, while also giving the Commission authority to waive this requirement under specific criteria related to costs, environmental impact, and other factors. The legislation also restricts the construction of data centers in certain Baltimore City development districts and clarifies definitions related to construction activities for transmission lines. Additionally, the bill outlines notification procedures that applicants must follow when seeking approval, ensuring that local governments, state officials, and landowners are informed about proposed projects.
This bill grants the Howard County Office of the Inspector General the authority to access and inspect public records when conducting audits of county government, its agencies, or the public school system. It requires record custodians to provide access if the Inspector General determines it is necessary for an audit and if state or local law already permits such access. The bill also restricts the redisclosure of information obtained through these audits, ensuring it remains subject to existing privacy and disclosure laws. This change strengthens the Inspector General's ability to perform oversight without facing administrative barriers from record custodians. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026.
This Senate Joint Resolution designates the last full week of September 2026 as Frontotemporal Degeneration Awareness Week to increase public understanding of the condition. The bill directly affects individuals with frontotemporal degeneration, their families, healthcare providers, and state agencies involved in dementia care. It establishes a specific timeframe for awareness activities without mandating specific programs or funding requirements. The resolution serves as a formal recognition of the disease's impact on patients in their prime working years and its significant healthcare costs.
This bill modifies Maryland's retail electricity and gas supply regulations by changing how utility companies can charge fees, what marketing materials they can bill customers for, and how long residential energy contracts can last. It reduces the annual assessment fee that electric and gas companies pay to the state Public Service Commission from 0.50% to 0.25% of their gross operating revenues, while keeping separate fees for the Strategic Energy Planning Office and Office of People's Counsel. The legislation also limits residential electricity contracts to a maximum of 36 months and removes the ability for suppliers to automatically renew green power contracts without customer consent. Additionally, the bill clarifies that marketing materials must be neutral when informing customers about standard energy options and repeals previous regulations on green power pricing.
