Maryland Bills

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1250: Consumer Protection and Product Liability - Chatbots

HB 1250 regulates how chatbots are designed, operated, and made available to users in Maryland. It requires developers and operators to obtain clear user permission before collecting data, display specific safety warnings (especially for minors), and follow strict privacy rules for handling personal information. The bill also treats chatbots as "products" for liability purposes, meaning users can pursue legal claims if chatbots cause harm, and mandates that state agencies develop educational materials about behavioral health services. These rules apply to all chatbots used in Maryland, including those operated by government entities.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 859: Financial Institutions - Digital Assets and Digital Asset Staking - Regulation (Maryland Financial Innovation Act of 2026)

HB 859, the Maryland Financial Innovation Act of 2026, prohibits state agencies and local governments from restricting certain digital asset activities, such as accepting cryptocurrency for payments, using self-hosted wallets, operating blockchain nodes, or participating in staking. It specifically clarifies that "staking as a service" (where a provider manages staking infrastructure for users) does not constitute a security under Maryland law, exempting it from securities registration requirements. The bill preserves existing authority for the Commissioner of Financial Regulation (under the Maryland Money Transmission Act) and the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division to enforce relevant laws. This directly affects financial institutions, crypto service providers, and consumers engaging with digital assets in Maryland, aiming to create a clearer regulatory framework for innovation.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1201: Condominiums and Homeowners Associations - Reserve Studies - Exemptions

HB 1201 exempts certain condominiums and homeowners associations from Maryland’s reserve study requirements under specific conditions. It allows condominiums to skip the reserve study process if their council of unit owners approves funding repairs through a special assessment with 80% owner approval. The bill also establishes phased implementation dates for new condominiums based on county and effective date (e.g., Prince George’s County condos established after October 1, 2020, must follow updated rules). This change modifies existing law to reduce administrative burdens for qualifying associations while maintaining reserve study standards for others.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1494: Electricity and Retail Gas Supply - Customer Choice, Consumer Protection, and Green Power (Retail Energy Modernization and Consumer Choice Act)

HB 1494 modernizes Maryland's residential electricity and gas markets by allowing suppliers to offer time-of-use rates for terms longer than 12 months and combining electricity with green energy certificates in multi-year plans. It permits rates that exceed standard utility rates during peak times and exempts certain green power products from typical marketing and pricing rules. The bill requires the Public Service Commission to establish new rules for consolidated billing, cybersecurity, and fair interconnection of energy services. These changes directly affect residential customers choosing electricity/gas plans and suppliers offering those services, aiming to expand consumer options while adding new regulatory safeguards.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1236: Real Property – Prohibition on Restrictions of Accessory Dwelling Units – Historic District Exemption

HB 1236 modifies Maryland law to prevent restrictions on accessory dwelling units (ADUs - secondary housing units on the same property as a primary home) from applying to historic properties. It specifically exempts two categories: (1) properties listed in or eligible for Maryland’s Historic Register, and (2) properties within districts designated as historic under local zoning rules. This means property owners in historic districts can develop or rent ADUs without facing prohibitions based solely on historic designation. The bill does not change general ADU rules outside historic areas but ensures historic preservation rules cannot block ADU development in these zones.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1298: Third-Party Litigation Financing - Licensing and Regulation

HB 1298 establishes a regulatory framework for third-party litigation financing in Maryland. It requires litigation financiers to obtain a license under the state's consumer loan laws and defines "litigation financing" as money provided to consumers for civil cases where repayment depends on winning the case or receiving settlement/judgment proceeds. The bill mandates that parties in civil actions must proactively disclose any litigation financing contracts to opposing parties and insurers, with ongoing disclosure requirements for any changes. Additionally, it allows courts to consider the existence, participants, and terms of these contracts as discoverable evidence in any civil case involving litigation financing. This directly affects consumers seeking legal funding, attorneys working with financiers, and the financiers themselves.

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1220: Business Regulation - Data Broker Registry

HB 1220 establishes a mandatory annual registry for data brokers operating in Maryland. It requires businesses that collect, sell, or license "brokered personal data" (such as names, addresses, biometric information, or Social Security numbers) to register with the Comptroller each year. The bill excludes credit reporting agencies, financial institutions under federal law, and certain nonprofit organizations assisting law enforcement or emergency responders. This registry aims to increase transparency about how personal data is collected and shared by businesses that sell it.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 989: Child Exploitation Material - Civil and Criminal Actions (Safe Kids Act)

SB 989 (Safe Kids Act) creates a civil cause of action allowing parents or legal guardians of minors depicted in unlawful child exploitation material to sue online platforms that knowingly distribute such material. The bill defines "unlawful child exploitation material" to include AI-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children, criminalizing platforms that knowingly issue, sell, or distribute these materials. It establishes remedies including actual damages, attorney fees, and punitive damages for affected families, while exempting platforms acting solely as transmission services. The law applies to social media, apps, and websites that create or distribute content featuring minors in sexual situations, including AI-generated depictions.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 18, 2026

HB 1261: Consumer Protection - Artificial Intelligence Toys (Artificial Intelligence Toy Safety Act)

HB 1261, the Artificial Intelligence Toy Safety Act, requires manufacturers of AI toys marketed to children in Maryland to include specific safety features and data privacy protections. It mandates parental consent mechanisms, age-appropriate content filters to block harmful or inappropriate material (like violence or emotional manipulation), automatic "safe mode" that disables the toy during risky interactions, and prohibitions on using child data for marketing. The law directly affects toy manufacturers selling AI toys in Maryland, requiring them to conduct safety assessments and update software for vulnerabilities. Violations are treated as unfair trade practices under Maryland's Consumer Protection Act, with enforcement handled by a new Review Panel under the Attorney General's office.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1497: Charles County - Rent Stabilization - Seniors

HB 1497 would require Charles County to cap annual rent increases for rental units occupied by seniors at the Washington metropolitan area Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate, effective October 1, 2026. It directly affects seniors (defined as individuals eligible for full Social Security retirement benefits) renting in Charles County. The bill establishes a legal limit preventing landlords from raising rents more than the local inflation rate each year. This applies only to Charles County and does not affect other jurisdictions or non-senior renters.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1538: Land Use - Accessory Dwelling Units - Requirements and Prohibitions (Maryland Generational Housing Act of 2026)

HB 1538, the Maryland Generational Housing Act of 2026, requires Maryland counties and municipalities to adopt local laws by October 1, 2026, permitting at least one internal accessory dwelling unit (ADU, like a converted basement) and one external ADU (like a backyard cottage) on single-family residential properties. The bill directly affects homeowners, local governments, and utility providers by prohibiting localities from imposing off-street parking requirements on ADUs, banning utility fees for shared meters/services, and exempting ADUs from property taxes. Key provisions include removing ADUs from density calculations for zoning purposes and ensuring they meet basic safety standards without requiring additional parking. This law aims to increase housing options for multi-generational households while streamlining development for existing single-family lots.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 1510: Unemployment Insurance - Fraud Prevention, Detection, and Enforcement

HB 1510 requires unemployment insurance claimants in Maryland to use two-step verification (like a password plus a code) when accessing online claim services to prevent fraud. It mandates the Department of Labor to review claims with suspicious patterns - such as identical bank account details used across multiple claims - and refer suspected fraud cases to law enforcement. The bill also authorizes the Department to recover overpaid benefits by withholding from state income tax refunds and increases penalties for fraud, including extending disqualification periods for claimants found to have committed fraud.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Technology

Bill results