SB 991 requires Maryland government agencies to allow inspectors general (IGs) created under state or local law to inspect public records when state law authorizes their access and they need the records for their duties. The bill specifies that agencies must permit this access unless the records are legally privileged or confidential. It also restricts how IGs can share any public records they receive under this provision. This bill directly affects state and local IG offices and the agencies that must comply with their record requests, effective October 1, 2026.
SB 990 establishes a Public Schools STEM and Robotics Program Task Force to study existing STEM and robotics programs in Maryland public schools and other states. The task force, composed of 12 appointed members including legislative leaders, state education officials, school system representatives, and nonprofit leaders, will collect data on program descriptions, funding, and impacts. It will study the feasibility of implementing competitive STEM/robotics programs statewide and recommend whether robotics should be established as a varsity sport in all public high schools. The task force must report findings to state legislative committees by December 15, 2026, and the bill expires June 30, 2027.
SB 993 amends Maryland law to allow a nondependent child (such as an adult child not financially supported by the deceased parent) of a covered worker to file a wrongful death lawsuit if the worker dies from a work-related incident. Previously, the workers' compensation exclusivity rule prevented such lawsuits, but this bill explicitly removes that barrier. The law now states that workers' compensation benefits do not bar nondependent children from seeking damages under Maryland’s wrongful death statute (Title 3, Subtitle 9). This directly affects adult children who are not considered dependents under current workers' compensation rules.
SB 235 requires Baltimore County's governing body to establish property tax credits for homes owned by public safety officers and Baltimore County public school employees. The bill mandates that the county create specific rules for the credit amount, duration, eligibility, and application process through local law. It directly affects these two groups of public employees by potentially reducing their county property tax burden. The law takes effect June 1, 2026, applying to taxable years beginning after June 30, 2026.
SB 299 requires Maryland county boards of education to allow therapy dogs in public schools, subject to specific policies. The bill mandates that each county adopt a policy covering therapy dog certification, handler guidelines, school access rules, parent/student notifications, and accommodations for allergies or discomfort. Therapy dogs must be accompanied by a certified handler and meet defined emotional support criteria for students. This law applies directly to all public schools in Maryland, effective July 1, 2026. It establishes concrete requirements for school policies but does not specify outcomes or funding.
SB 307 requires Maryland county school boards to provide free tampons and pads in women’s restrooms at all public schools. Schools must install dispensers in at least two women’s restrooms by October 2022 (for middle/high schools) and all women’s restrooms by August 2025, with elementary schools needing at least one dispenser by October 2022. Boards must regularly restock products and can seek reimbursement from the state for installation costs, using a $500,000 fiscal year 2023 appropriation. This bill directly affects public school districts and students in Maryland’s public schools.
SB 381 requires Maryland county school boards to collect monthly energy usage data for all school buildings and report it to the state Interagency Commission on School Construction. The commission must then create rules for what data to collect and how often to report it, analyze the collected data, and provide specific recommendations to improve school energy efficiency. This bill directly affects county school boards and the state commission, aiming to make school energy use more efficient through data-driven insights. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026.
SB 329 (Opting in on Opportunity Act) requires Maryland’s State Department of Education to certify nonprofit organizations as scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) if they meet specific criteria, such as being organized under Maryland law and providing scholarships to eligible students. It mandates the Department to annually submit a list of certified SGOs to the U.S. Treasury starting in 2027 and directs the Comptroller to provide online guidance helping taxpayers claim federal tax credits for donations to these SGOs. The bill directly affects nonprofit scholarship organizations seeking certification and Maryland taxpayers who contribute to them. Key provisions include standardized certification rules, annual reporting requirements, and public reporting of scholarship data (e.g., numbers awarded, amounts, schools attended). It aims to align Maryland’s process with the federal tax credit program under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code.
SB 375 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to create an annual artificial intelligence training program for county board of education members. The program includes foundational training (covering AI risks, policy development, student privacy, and oversight) and yearly continuing training on new AI developments. County board members must complete foundational training within one year of taking office or by June 30, 2027, and annual training thereafter. The bill mandates submission of completion certificates to county boards and the state department, with public reporting of non-completers and biennial effectiveness reports to the legislature.
SB 409 increases annual compensation for Anne Arundel County Board of Education members: the president's pay rises from $17,000 to $25,000, the vice president's from $16,000 to $24,000, and other members from $15,000 to $23,000. It also increases the scholarship for student members who complete a full term, raising it from $15,000 (for terms beginning before July 1, 2029) to $23,000 (for terms beginning on or after July 1, 2029). These changes take effect October 1, 2026, applying to the next term after the law's effective date. The bill directly affects county board members and student members serving on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education.
HB 1444 allows Washington County Health Department to grant exemptions from certain septic system regulations to owners of qualifying residential properties. It applies only to properties in rural or agricultural zones with existing conventional septic systems as of June 1, 2026, if compliance would be financially or physically impossible due to unique property characteristics. Property owners must submit an application with a licensed professional’s report proving undue burden, and exemptions are limited to the named owner for up to three years (renewable). The exemption does not transfer with property ownership and expires upon sale or after three years.
HB 1086 authorizes Montgomery County to install crosswalk monitoring systems in school zones to detect vehicles failing to yield to pedestrians. Drivers recorded by these systems who do not yield can be cited and fined for violations. Fines collected from these citations go directly to Montgomery County for roadway safety improvements, not to the state. The bill specifically applies to school zone crosswalks and modifies how citations are processed for this enforcement method.
