Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 550: Baltimore City - Property Tax - Authority to Impose on Vacant and Abandoned Property Owned by Nonprofit Organizations

SB 550 allows Baltimore City to impose a higher property tax rate on vacant or abandoned properties owned by nonprofit organizations that are no longer used for the charitable purposes for which the nonprofit was established. Specifically, it authorizes the city to create a special tax subclass for properties unused for at least three consecutive taxable years. The special rate can be up to 10 times the standard city property tax rate for these properties. This bill directly affects nonprofit organizations owning such properties, aiming to encourage their reuse or sale. It takes effect for taxable years beginning after June 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 127: State Government - Grants and Contracts - Reimbursement of Indirect Costs

This bill changes how Maryland reimburses nonprofit organizations for indirect costs (like overhead) on state-funded grants and contracts. It applies to nonprofits receiving state grants or contracts awarded on or after specific dates (2018 for new grants, 2019 for renewals), excluding purely federal funding. The key provision requires reimbursement at either the nonprofit's existing federal indirect cost rate or a minimum 10% rate of modified direct costs if no federal rate exists. This policy takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 1343: Anne Arundel County - Property Tax - Day Care Centers and Child Care Centers

HB 1343 exempts personal property used in registered large family child care homes from taxation in Anne Arundel County, and allows the county or its municipalities to grant property tax credits for real property used by qualifying child care centers. The bill specifically covers centers registered as family child care homes under Maryland law, licensed child care centers, and day care centers for elderly or adults. Property tax credits are capped at $10,000 annually or the actual property tax owed on the relevant portion, whichever is less. These changes directly affect child care providers operating in Anne Arundel County by reducing their property tax burden.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 293: Criminal Procedure - Child Victims - Testimony in Child Abuse Cases

HB 293 allows courts in Maryland to order child victims of abuse to testify via closed-circuit TV outside the courtroom when their presence with the defendant would cause serious emotional distress that prevents them from communicating. This applies to cases under Maryland’s Family Law or Criminal Law regarding child abuse, but only if the defendant has legal representation. The bill specifies that defendants cannot be in the same room as the child during testimony, and limits who may be present (attorneys, therapists, or others supporting the child). It also prohibits two-way video that would let the child see or hear the defendant during testimony. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 811: Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services - Extension of Report Deadline and Task Force

SB 811 extends deadlines for the existing Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services. It changes the report submission deadline from December 31, 2025, to October 31, 2026, and extends the task force’s operational period until June 30, 2027 (from June 30, 2026). The bill modifies two prior laws (Chapters 936 and 937 of 2024) to adjust these timelines without creating new policies or services. This procedural change affects the task force’s schedule but does not alter the scope of reentry services planning.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 485: St. Mary's County - Corrections

HB 485 modifies St. Mary’s County’s correctional programs by adding new options like home detention, day reporting, work release, and in-patient treatment programs. It removes the requirement for the sheriff to collect inmate earnings from these programs and instead allows the sheriff to require participants to provide proof of payments toward child support, restitution, or court-ordered fees. The bill directly affects individuals in St. Mary’s County participating in these correctional programs, giving the sheriff authority to verify payment of financial obligations. It becomes effective October 1, 2025, and updates existing law without changing eligibility rules for program participation.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 608: Criminal Procedure - U Nonimmigrant Status Petitions

SB 608 amends Maryland law to update how local authorities certify victims' helpfulness for U Nonimmigrant Status (U visa) petitions. It expands who can certify these petitions to include more agencies like child/adult protective services and the Commission on Civil Rights, beyond just police and prosecutors. The bill requires certifying officials to include specific details about the crime, the victim’s past/present cooperation, and evidence of harm in the certification form. This directly affects victims of qualifying crimes (like trafficking or domestic violence) seeking U visas to stay in the U.S. while assisting law enforcement. The changes align Maryland’s process with federal U visa rules and streamline certification for victims and advocates.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 775: Correctional Services - Death of Incarcerated Individual - Notification

HB 775 requires Maryland's Commissioner of Correction to notify specific officials when an incarcerated person dies in a state correctional facility. The notification must include the cause of death but cannot share protected health information, and must be sent to state legislators representing the facility's district, the local county council or Baltimore City Council, and the county executive or Baltimore mayor. The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services must adopt regulations compliant with federal privacy laws (HIPAA) to implement this requirement. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, applying to all state correctional facilities.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 1026: Financial Institutions - Consumer Credit - Application of Licensing Requirements (Maryland Secondary Market Stability Act of 2025)

SB 1026, the Maryland Secondary Market Stability Act of 2025, exempts certain entities from needing a financial services license when they acquire mortgages, mortgage loans, or installment loans under specific conditions. It applies to buyers who do not otherwise make mortgages (for mortgage acquisitions), do not engage in mortgage lending (for mortgage loans), or rely on others to service loans without making them themselves (for installment loans). The bill also establishes the Maryland Licensing Workgroup, composed of regulators, consumer advocates, banking representatives, and experts, to study and recommend changes to licensing requirements for financial service providers. This bill directly affects non-bank investors and secondary market entities purchasing loans without operating as lenders.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 561: Corporations and Associations - Electric Cooperatives - Nonescheat Capital Credits

This bill (SB 561) exempts unclaimed capital credits from Maryland's abandoned property rules for electric cooperatives. Specifically, it defines "nonescheat capital credits" as funds due to past members (unclaimed for at least 5 years after retirement) and prevents cooperatives from turning these funds over to the state. Cooperatives may only use these funds to assist current members or make approved charitable donations, not for general operations. It directly affects Maryland electric cooperatives and their past members whose unclaimed credits meet the 5-year threshold.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 181: Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole

SB 181 (Correctional Services - Geriatric and Medical Parole) requires Maryland’s Parole Commission to consider an incarcerated person’s age when deciding parole eligibility, specifically including age in the assessment of "reasonable probability" of not reoffending. It also clarifies medical parole standards, defining "chronically debilitated" (e.g., severe dementia or permanent disability) and "terminal illness," and mandates that medical parole requests include a licensed medical professional’s evaluation. The bill requires the Commission to develop procedures for reviewing such requests and allows for a direct meeting between the incarcerated person and the Commission under certain medical circumstances. This directly affects older inmates (60+) or those with serious, non-improving medical conditions who are eligible for parole.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 22, 2025

HB 431: Consumer Protection - Consumer Contracts - Limitation Periods

HB 431 establishes that any provision in a consumer contract (for personal, family, or household goods/services) setting a shorter time limit for filing a lawsuit than required by Maryland law is void. This bill directly affects consumers who sign contracts for everyday purchases or services, ensuring they cannot be bound by unfair short deadlines. Key provisions declare such contract terms unenforceable, prohibit defenses based on shortened periods, and treat violations as violations of Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act. The law applies prospectively only, taking effect October 1, 2025, and does not affect contracts signed before that date.

Bill results