Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 723: Health Occupations - Authorization to Practice for Former Federal Employees and Dental Applicants Licensed or Certified in Another State

HB 723 streamlines licensing for dental professionals already certified in other states. It requires Maryland's State Board of Dental Examiners to issue licenses within a specific timeframe to: (1) dentists and dental hygienists licensed in another state who meet exam or practice history requirements, and (2) dental radiation technologists certified elsewhere under certain conditions. The bill modifies existing licensing rules to reduce delays, eliminating redundant exams for qualified applicants while maintaining standards like passing Maryland's jurisprudence exam. This directly affects out-of-state licensed dental professionals seeking to practice in Maryland without full re-licensing.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 73: State Finance and Procurement - State Leasing of Real Property

HB 73 modifies Maryland's state leasing rules for real property. It increases the threshold for noncompetitive leases from 2,500 to 5,000 square feet, allowing smaller office space leases without competitive bidding. The bill also shortens the required advertising period from 30 to 20 days and shifts advertising requirements from newspapers to posting on the Department's website and the eMaryland Marketplace platform. These changes directly affect state agencies needing to lease office space and commercial landlords in Maryland. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 286: Local Comprehensive Planning and State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Policy - Planning Principles

HB 286 replaces 12 existing "planning visions" in Maryland law with 8 new "planning principles" for local comprehensive planning and state policy. The bill requires local planning commissions to implement these principles - including land productivity, transportation access, housing options, economic adaptation, equity, resilience, community spaces, and environmental protection - when developing community plans. It also updates legal references in Maryland’s code to align with these new principles. This change directly affects Maryland’s local planning commissions and state policy documents, focusing on guiding sustainable growth without introducing new regulations or funding.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 246: Human Services - Adult Protective Services

HB 246 modifies Maryland's confidentiality rules for adult protective services. It specifically allows government officials investigating abuse to share certain information with other officials during investigations (replacing a previous restriction). The bill also expands the definition of "health practitioner" to include emergency medical services providers in relevant laws. Finally, it updates confidentiality protections for people reporting suspected abuse, clarifying when their identity can be disclosed to authorities. These changes directly affect adult protective services workers, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and individuals receiving these services.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 841: Gaming - Charles County Gaming Permit Review Board - Repeal

HB 841 repeals the Charles County Gaming Permit Review Board and transfers its responsibilities for reviewing gaming permits and regulations to the Charles County Attorney. The bill eliminates the board's structure (including its seven-member composition with specific backgrounds) and duties, such as quarterly permit reviews and maintaining records of approved gaming activities. It also renumbers related sections of Maryland's Criminal Law code to reflect the change. This directly affects the County Attorney, who will now handle all permit-related decisions previously managed by the board. The bill does not alter gaming regulations or fees but changes who administers the permit process.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 601: Economic Development - Small Business Guaranty Fund - Alterations

HB 601 amends Maryland's Small Business Guaranty Fund program (Section 5-540 of the Economic Development Article) to expand how loan guarantees can be supported. It now allows guarantees to be backed by the State’s full faith and credit *or* by alternative financial instruments like irrevocable letters of credit, treasurer’s checks, escrow accounts, or other instruments promising reimbursement for lender losses. The bill also adds a requirement that the Authority must determine a loan will have "substantial economic impact" before approving a guarantee, considering factors like job creation and loan terms. This directly affects small businesses seeking loans (applicants) and financial institutions providing those loans by making guarantee options more flexible and adding a new review step. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 104: Maryland Farms and Families Fund – Purpose and Use – Alterations

HB 104 amends Maryland's Farms and Families Fund to clarify how grant funds must be distributed. It requires that at least 60% of funds received by qualifying nonprofits must go directly to farmers markets for coordinator support and matching SNAP/FMNP/WIC purchases, with a maximum of 40% for program administration. The bill increases the annual state appropriation for the Fund from $100,000 to $300,000 starting in fiscal year 2024, while specifying this funding is supplemental to existing agriculture marketing programs. The changes directly affect nonprofit organizations implementing the program, farmers markets accepting federal nutrition benefits, and food-insecure residents using SNAP/FMNP/WIC at participating markets. The core purpose - doubling purchasing power for residents and boosting farmer revenue - remains unchanged.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 239: Charitable Organizations - Late Fees and Registration - Suspension and Cancellation Requirements

HB 239 modifies Maryland's rules for charitable organizations regarding late fees and registration. It directly affects charities collecting over $25,000 annually, requiring them to pay annual fees based on contribution levels (ranging from $50 to $300). The bill gives the Secretary of State new authority to suspend or waive late fees for organizations missing annual reports, and clarifies when registration can be canceled (after 3 years of missed filings) or reinstated (by submitting missing reports, fees, and meeting tax/exemption requirements). It also specifies that late fees cannot be treated as delinquent debts requiring central collection. The changes take effect July 1, 2025.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 421: Public Safety - 9-1-1 Trust Fund - 9-8-8 Suicide Prevention Hotline

HB 421 amends Maryland's 9-1-1 Trust Fund rules to allow using fund money for costs related to the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline that overlap with 9-1-1 operations (like shared software interfaces and joint training). Previously, the fund could not cover *any* costs associated with the 9-8-8 hotline, but this bill removes that blanket prohibition. The change specifically permits funding for "costs related to the operation of the 9-8-8 hotline that may be shared with 9-1-1 activities," while still prohibiting funds from covering costs that *solely* support the hotline. This affects how the 9-1-1 Trust Fund is allocated and used by state and local agencies managing emergency communications systems.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 585: Property Tax - Low-Income Housing Tax Credit - Valuation of Property

HB 585 modifies Maryland's property tax rules for commercial properties developed under the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. It requires county assessors to value these properties using the property's actual or anticipated net operating income (after expenses), capitalized at standard market rates for similar properties, plus a 1.5-2% adjustment for affordability restrictions. Crucially, it prohibits assessors from counting the federal tax credits themselves as income when calculating value. This directly affects property assessors, developers of LIHTC properties, and owners of such housing by changing how their property taxes are calculated. The law takes effect June 1, 2025, for taxable years after June 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 8, 2025

HB 272: Maryland Department of Planning – Modernization

HB 272 updates administrative procedures for Maryland's Department of Planning. It requires the State Administrator of Elections to electronically share new or changed precinct boundaries with the Secretary of Planning within 5 days. The bill also revises population projection requirements (mandating 20-year projections updated every 3 years) and removes outdated references to the State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Commission. These changes streamline information sharing between agencies and modernize existing planning processes without creating new programs or directly affecting residents or businesses.

signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 8, 2025

SB 226: Maryland Farms and Families Fund - Purpose and Use - Alterations

SB 226 modifies how the Maryland Farms and Families Fund distributes grants to support local food access programs. It requires grantees to allocate at least 60% of funds directly to farmers markets for coordinator support and matching purchases using SNAP, FMNP, and WIC benefits, while limiting administrative use to 40%. The bill updates eligibility criteria for nonprofit organizations, requiring demonstrated experience in healthy food programs and community outreach. It also clarifies that the annual $300,000 appropriation for the Fund must supplement, not replace, existing agriculture marketing funding. This affects nonprofit organizations, farmers markets, and food-insecure residents using federal nutrition benefits in Maryland.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results