Maryland Bills

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

HB 1549: Reduction of Lead Risk in Housing - Rental Dwelling Unit - Definition

HB 1549 amends Maryland law to clarify the definition of "rental dwelling unit" under lead risk reduction regulations. It specifies that a rental unit must have permanent access to living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation facilities - removing the previous term "independent" from the definition. The bill excludes unfinished basements, hotel/motel units, inaccessible areas, and units not offered for rent from this definition. This change directly affects landlords and tenants in rental properties covered by Maryland's lead safety laws, ensuring clearer application of existing lead risk reduction requirements. The amendment takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 93: Home Builders - Model Homes and Contracts for the Intent to Purchase a New Home - Requirements

HB 93 requires home builders to provide clear, standardized information about model homes and purchase contracts to prospective buyers. Specifically, builders must give a written document listing all upgrades in a model home and their costs, plus the base price and square footage, and display a visible sign at the model home with the same details. At contract signing, builders must provide a full list of available upgrades and their costs, and buyers gain a 3-day right to rescind the contract for any reason. The law directly affects home builders constructing model homes and prospective home buyers purchasing new homes in Maryland.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 314: Automation Technology Deployment Assessment and Displaced Employee Retraining Fund - Established

HB 314 requires large Maryland employers (100+ employees who reduced their workforce by at least 10 due to automation) to report annual data on automation use and job losses starting in 2028. These employers must pay a $900 assessment per displaced employee (adjusted annually for inflation) to fund the Displaced Employee Retraining Fund. The fund supports retraining for workers separated from jobs due to automation technology, excluding voluntary departures or facility closures. Employers can reduce payments by 50% if they provide severance, retraining opportunities, or help place workers with smaller local employers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

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

HB 346: Workers' Compensation - Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Retroactive Compensation

HB 346 requires Maryland employers or insurers to pay retroactive temporary disability compensation to covered workers who reached "maximum medical improvement" but didn't receive compensation during the gap between that point and when vocational rehabilitation services began. This applies only if the worker later started vocational rehab services and was not compensated for the period between medical stabilization and rehab initiation. The bill caps retroactive payments at 60 days and mandates they be paid in addition to ongoing compensation under existing law. It directly affects injured workers in Maryland whose rehabilitation services started after their medical recovery stabilized but before they received temporary disability pay. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies prospectively only.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

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

HB 366: Workers' Compensation - Exemption From Exclusivity of Remedy - Action for Wrongful Death by Nondependent Child

HB 366 allows a nondependent child (such as an adult child or a child not financially supported by the parent) of a covered worker to file a wrongful death lawsuit against an employer following a work-related death. The bill amends Maryland law to explicitly state that the workers' compensation exclusivity rule - typically preventing other lawsuits - does not apply to nondependent children in these cases. This change directly affects nondependent children who would otherwise be barred from seeking damages beyond workers' compensation. The bill does not alter the general rule that workers' compensation remains the primary remedy for most workplace injuries and deaths.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 545: Real Estate Brokers - Residential Real Estate Transactions - Transaction Brokers

HB 545 creates a new role for real estate professionals in Maryland: "transaction brokers" who facilitate residential home sales or leases without representing either the buyer/seller or landlord/tenant. It allows licensed brokers, associate brokers, or salespersons to act as transaction brokers only when all parties sign a written consent form explaining they won't have traditional agency duties and may want separate representation. The State Real Estate Commission must develop a standard consent form using plain language, clear formatting, and common terms. This applies to single-family homes, small multi-unit properties, and residentially zoned land, but not short-term leases under 125 days.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 453: Real Property - Insufficient Condominium Reserve Account Grant Fund - Establishment

HB 453 establishes the Insufficient Condominium Reserve Account Grant Fund to provide grants to low-income condominium owners (defined as households earning ≤80% of area median income) who face increased assessments needed to meet reserve account requirements. The fund, which automatically earns interest and continues year-to-year, covers these costs directly and prioritizes applicants aged 65 or older. Condominium associations must report annual reserve balance updates to the Department of Housing and Community Development for grant recipients. This policy change directly affects qualifying condominium residents and associations in Maryland, ensuring financial assistance without replacing other funding sources.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 61: Financial Institutions – Definition of Student Financing Companies – Alteration

HB 61 modifies Maryland law to exclude institutions of postsecondary education (like colleges and universities) from being classified as "student financing companies" for regulatory purposes. This change removes these schools from certain registration and reporting requirements that apply to entities offering student loans. Specifically, it amends definitions in the Education and Financial Institutions articles to clarify that colleges/universities providing student financing are not subject to these financial regulations. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

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

HB 614: Education - School Building Energy Usage - Monthly Report

HB 614 requires every county board of education in Maryland to collect monthly data on energy usage in school buildings and submit it to the Interagency Commission on School Construction. The Commission must then create rules specifying exactly what data to collect and how often to report it. After gathering this data, the Commission must analyze it and provide specific recommendations to county boards for improving school energy efficiency. This bill directly affects county school districts and the state Commission, aiming to standardize energy reporting and drive efficiency improvements in public schools.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 245: Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement Agreements - Prohibition

Maryland's SB 245 prohibits state, local governments, county sheriffs, and their agencies from entering new agreements with federal authorities to enforce civil immigration law. It defines such agreements as contracts under federal laws like 8 U.S.C. § 1103 or § 1357. Existing agreements must be terminated by July 1, 2026, or immediately upon the bill's effective date of June 1, 2026. The law directly affects all Maryland local law enforcement entities and state agencies that previously collaborated with federal immigration enforcement.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

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

HB 609: State Transfer Tax - Land Preservation Special Fund - Revenue Allocation

HB 609 repeals a requirement that $25 million of State Transfer Tax revenue be allocated to the General Fund for fiscal years 2026 through 2029. Instead, the bill redirects this funding to remain in the Land Preservation Special Fund, increasing resources for conservation programs. The fund's revenue is allocated as follows: 75.15% for Program Open Space land acquisition, 17.05% for Agricultural Land Preservation, 5% for Rural Legacy, and 1.8% for Heritage Conservation. This change directly affects state land conservation efforts by ensuring more funds stay dedicated to these programs during the specified years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 444: Public Safety - Immigration Enforcement Agreements - Prohibition

HB 444 prohibits Maryland state and local governments, including county sheriffs and agencies, from entering into new agreements with federal authorities to enforce civil immigration law. It requires existing agreements to be terminated by July 1, 2026, or immediately upon the law’s effective date (June 1, 2026). The bill specifically targets contracts, memorandums, or agreements that allow local entities to assist in federal immigration enforcement under federal laws like 8 U.S.C. § 1103 or § 1357. This directly affects local law enforcement agencies and government bodies that previously collaborated with federal immigration authorities. The law aims to prevent state/local resources from being used for immigration enforcement under federal programs.

Topics ✓ Immigration

Bill results