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Maryland Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 26,430 Active 12,181 In committee 12,181 Passed 3,693 Signed 7,929 Failed 2,304

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2026

HB 703: Dorchester County - County Property Leases - Notice Exemptions

This bill exempts Dorchester County from standard public notice requirements when leasing county property under specific conditions. It allows the county to enter leases with terms of five years or less and annual rents of $750 or less without publishing weekly notices in local newspapers for three weeks. The exemption directly affects Dorchester County's process for managing small-scale, low-cost property leases. This change streamlines administrative procedures for these limited agreements while maintaining notice requirements for longer or higher-cost leases.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2026

HB 432: Municipalities - Vagrancy - Repeal of Authority to Prohibit

HB 432 repeals a provision in Maryland law that allowed municipalities to prohibit "vagrancy" (laws targeting homeless or loitering individuals without clear purpose). The bill directly affects local governments by removing their legal authority to enforce such vagrancy prohibitions under Section 5-207(c)(2) of the Maryland Annotated Code. Key mechanisms include deleting "vagrancy" from the list of activities municipalities could ban, while preserving other related powers like prohibiting gambling or vice. The change takes effect October 1, 2026, and represents a concrete policy shift in local law enforcement authority.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 994: Agriculture - Hemp Manufacturing License - Establishment

This bill requires Maryland's Department of Agriculture to create a new hemp manufacturing license, allowing licensed businesses to legally produce, store, and transport hemp extracts. It mandates strict tracking through chain of custody documentation and requires independent testing to verify product quality and compliance. The law also establishes clear THC content standards for finished products to distinguish them from cannabis items and provides legal protection for those holding valid licenses. These changes aim to formalize and regulate the hemp manufacturing industry while maintaining safety and quality controls.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 886: Certified Peer Recovery Specialists - Coverage Under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance and Workgroup on Certification

HB 886 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers to cover services provided by certified peer recovery specialists starting January 1, 2027. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries, health insurance plans, and certified peer recovery specialists who provide mental health or substance use recovery support. The bill mandates coverage for these services in any setting and creates a workgroup to improve certification processes for specialists. The workgroup, convened by the Maryland Department of Health, must report on streamlining certification by 2026. This policy change ensures standardized coverage for a specific type of recovery support service under state health programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 737: Health Maintenance Organizations - Payments to Nonparticipating Providers - Reimbursement Rate

HB 737 requires health insurance plans (HMOs) to pay non-contracted healthcare providers at minimum rates: 140% of Medicare rates for trauma care, and 125% of the 2019 rate adjusted for inflation for other services. This affects independent doctors, hospitals, and clinics that treat HMO members but aren’t directly contracted with them. The law updates payment standards to better reflect current costs using Medicare’s inflation index, replacing older fixed-rate calculations. It ensures non-contracted providers receive fairer compensation for services rendered to HMO enrollees.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 739: Health Insurance - Prompt Payment of Claims - Requirements

HB 739 requires health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs to pay or clearly explain claim refusals within 30 days of receiving a claim. It mandates that insurers provide specific, detailed notices when denying payment (including exact missing information) and treats any refusal as an official denial. The bill also limits fees for electronic payments (e.g., credit card) by requiring advance notice to providers and offering fee-free alternatives, while extending the time providers have to submit claims (180 days) and appeal denials (90 days). This directly affects insurers and providers by standardizing payment timelines and reducing opaque claim denials.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 808: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Step Therapy, Fail-First Protocols, and Prior Authorization - Prescription Drugs to Treat Serious Mental Illness

HB 808 prohibits Maryland's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance Program) from requiring prior authorization or step therapy/fail-first protocols for prescription drugs treating five specific serious mental health conditions: bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, PTSD, or medication-induced movement disorders linked to mental illness treatment. Starting July 1, 2026, the program must cover these medications without extra approval steps for adult enrollees diagnosed with these conditions. The law applies only to Medicaid-covered drugs for these diagnoses and expires on June 30, 2029. This directly affects Medicaid enrollees with these diagnoses by reducing administrative barriers to accessing prescribed mental health medications.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 865: Health Insurance - Remittance Advice - Interest on Late-Paid Claims

HB 865 requires health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to provide clear remittance advice that separately identifies and itemizes interest owed on late-paid claims. Specifically, it mandates that interest rates apply at 1.5% for claims unpaid 31-60 days, 2% for 61-120 days, and 2.5% after 120 days. This interest is automatically included in the reimbursement payment without requiring claim filers to submit additional claims for the interest. The bill directly affects insurers and the healthcare providers or patients who file claims, ensuring transparency in late-payment calculations. It takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 1419: Department of State Police - Centralized Background Check Division

HB 1419 establishes a Centralized Background Check Division within Maryland’s Department of State Police to standardize background checks for certain government roles. It requires all state and local government units to appoint a "Designated Individual" to manage background investigations for "regulated positions" (jobs requiring checks by law, such as those involving vulnerable populations). The division mandates that these investigations include enrollment in the FBI’s Rap Back program for ongoing criminal record monitoring, and it sets procedures for handling disqualifying events like arrests or convictions. This affects all state/local government employers and their employees, contractors, and volunteers in positions subject to background checks.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 1173: State Procurement - Contractors and Vendors - Restrictions on Use of State Funds and Resources

HB 1173 prohibits state contractors and vendors from using public funds to influence employees of their company (including subcontractors) regarding union membership or support for employee organizations. It specifically bans using state funds to fund anti-union campaigns, efforts to prevent collective bargaining rights, or activities opposing union certification. The law applies to all contractors and vendors working with state government units, covering both direct employee influence and third-party anti-union activities. Exceptions include standard collective bargaining processes, grievance resolution, and activities required by law. This bill directly affects state contractors, vendors, and their employees by restricting how public funds can be used in labor relations.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 1360: Maryland Public Ethics Law - Regulated Lobbyists - Reporting Requirements

HB 1360 updates Maryland's lobbying reporting requirements under the Public Ethics Law. It modifies the deadlines for regulated lobbyists to file annual reports - requiring filings by February 15, March 15, May 31, and November 30 each year - to cover specific reporting periods. The bill specifies detailed categories of information lobbyists must disclose, including compensation, office expenses, meals for officials, and other lobbying-related expenditures. These changes directly affect entities registered as lobbyists under Maryland law who influence legislative or executive actions. The bill focuses on clarifying and adjusting reporting timelines and content without altering lobbyist registration thresholds.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 1085: Maryland Office of the Inspector General - Establishment (Maryland Government Efficiency and Accountability Act of 2026)

HB 1085 establishes the Maryland Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to enhance state government efficiency and accountability. It creates a State Transparency Commission (comprising the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker) to appoint and oversee the Inspector General (IG), who must have qualifications in auditing, public administration, or related fields and serve a 6-year term. The bill requires all state agencies to cooperate with the IG during investigations and audits, protects IG records from public disclosure under the Public Information Act, and extends whistleblower protections to state employees reporting issues to the OIG. The IG will have authority to conduct efficiency reviews and track key performance indicators across state units.