Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 423: Public Safety - Maryland 9-1-1 Board and Maryland Department of Emergency Management - Regulatory Authority

HB 423 authorizes the Maryland 9-1-1 Board and Maryland Department of Emergency Management to adopt regulations implementing their existing responsibilities. It directly affects counties operating 9-1-1 systems, emergency management agencies, and public safety answering points by establishing regulatory standards for Next Generation 9-1-1 services, cybersecurity, staff training, records retention, and reimbursement processes. Key provisions include setting minimum standards for system interoperability, cybersecurity oversight, 9-1-1 specialist training (including implicit bias), and procedures for reviewing county plans and reimbursement requests. The bill clarifies these entities' authority to create rules but does not create new policy requirements.

Topics ✓ Technology

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 344: Maryland Environmental Service - Membership of Board of Directors - Alterations

HB 344 changes the board composition of the Maryland Environmental Service by replacing the State Treasurer with the Secretary of Planning or their designee. This affects the Service's governance structure, directly altering who serves on its Board of Directors. The bill also modifies term rules, stating that standard 4-year term provisions no longer apply to the Secretary of Planning or the Executive Director. These changes are made through amendments to Maryland's Natural Resources Code (Section 3-103). The bill focuses solely on administrative adjustments to board membership, with no new environmental policies.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 895: Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act

HB 895, the "Employment and Insurance Equality for Service Members Act," expands protections for service members and veterans by updating Maryland law to include all uniformed services (not just the armed forces) in key areas. It revises definitions of "veteran" and "uniformed services" across business licensing, insurance regulations, and employment laws, ensuring these rules apply equally to all service members. The bill adds new provisions, such as including uniformed services in small business loan programs and updating insurance coverage requirements, while removing outdated exclusions. This directly affects service members, veterans, and businesses operating under Maryland’s commercial, insurance, and employment regulations.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 236: Maryland Department of Planning - Modernization

SB 236 updates the administrative processes for the Maryland Department of Planning by revising several state laws. It requires the State Administrator of Elections to electronically send precinct boundary maps to the Department of Planning, alters how the Department of Environment submits proposals, and updates population projection requirements for the state and counties. The bill repeals outdated provisions, including those about the State Economic Growth Commission and local reporting requirements. These changes directly affect the Department of Planning, the State Administrator of Elections, the Department of Environment, and local jurisdictions.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 502: Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy and Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative - Established

HB 502 establishes the Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy within Maryland's Department of Disabilities and creates the "Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative." The bill directly affects state government agencies and employees with disabilities by requiring them to improve hiring, retention, and career advancement opportunities for people with disabilities. Key provisions include collecting employment data from state agencies, providing training on disability-inclusive hiring practices, and reporting annual progress to the Governor and General Assembly starting December 1, 2026. The initiative aims to reduce barriers in state employment through outreach, assistive technology access, and evaluating agency policies. The Office will begin operations on July 1, 2026, with mandatory reporting on outcomes and recommendations for improvement.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 150: Real Property - Recordation and Land Records - Requirements

SB 150 updates Maryland's requirements for recording real property documents. It revises formatting rules (requiring 10-point black type on white paper with specific margins), clarifies definitions (like "land" now meaning "property"), and mandates electronic recordation systems for county clerks. The bill directly affects property owners, real estate professionals, and county clerks who file deeds, mortgages, or other land-related documents. Non-compliant documents now incur triple the standard recording fee, and clerks must verify signatures and typed names before recording.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 402: Anne Arundel County Board of Education - Student Member Scholarship - Increase

HB 402 increases the scholarship amount for student members of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education from $8,000 to $15,000 per year. The bill directly affects students who serve a full term on the county board and complete their service. It amends Maryland's Education Article by updating Section 3-2A-07(b) to reflect the new scholarship amount, replacing the previous $8,000 figure. The change takes effect June 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 133: State Department of Assessments and Taxation - Notification of Constant Yield Tax Rate - Alteration

HB 133 repeals a requirement that the State Department of Assessments and Taxation notify local taxing authorities (like county councils, Baltimore City Council, and municipal governments) about the annual "constant yield tax rate." This rate ensures property tax revenue remains stable when property assessments change. The bill removes the administrative duty to send these notifications, eliminating a procedural step for the Department and local governments. The repeal takes effect June 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 266: Local Comprehensive Planning and State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy - Planning Principles

SB 266 updates Maryland's local planning requirements by replacing 12 existing "visions" with 8 new "planning principles" in state law. The bill requires local governments to integrate these principles - including land productivity, equitable housing access, transportation networks, economic adaptability, community engagement, climate resilience, cultural preservation, and ecological protection - into comprehensive plans. It directly affects all Maryland local governments responsible for planning under Article 1 of the Land Use Code. The bill also mandates updating legal references in Maryland's Annotated Code to align with these revised principles.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 1027: Workgroup to Study Implementation of an Expanded 3-1-1 Nonemergency System

HB 1027 creates a workgroup to study implementing a statewide 3-1-1 nonemergency telephone system in Maryland. The workgroup, composed of 12 members including state agency representatives, county officials, and industry stakeholders, will review existing 3-1-1 services, best practices from other states, and potential solutions for a statewide system. It will develop recommendations on oversight, feasibility, and a virtual portal, reporting findings to the Governor and legislature by November 1, 2025. This bill does not establish the 3-1-1 system itself but directs a study to inform future policy. The workgroup expires June 30, 2026.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 315: Maryland Environmental Service - Membership of Board of Directors - Alterations

SB 315 changes the composition of the Maryland Environmental Service's Board of Directors by replacing the State Treasurer with the Secretary of Planning or their designee. The bill directly affects the Service's governance structure, altering who serves as a voting member on the board. Key mechanisms include removing the Treasurer position and modifying term provisions to exempt the Secretary of Planning and Executive Director from standard board term rules. This is a procedural change to board membership, not a substantive policy shift.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 791: Somerset County - Property Tax - Emergency Services Tax

HB 791 authorizes Somerset County Commissioners to impose a property tax specifically to fund emergency services (fire, rescue, and emergency medical services) for all properties subject to the county's property tax. It requires the county to hold a public hearing during the annual budget process before initially imposing or increasing the tax, and mandates advance public notice of this hearing. The tax would be collected like other county property taxes, with unpaid amounts becoming a lien on property and accruing interest/penalties at the same rate as unpaid property taxes. This bill takes effect June 1, 2025, applying to taxable years beginning after June 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Bill results