Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 597: Growing Apprenticeships and the Public Safety Workforce (GAPS) Act

The Growing Apprenticeships and the Public Safety Workforce (GAPS) Act expands Maryland's apprenticeship program to include a broader range of public safety agencies, such as correctional facilities, in addition to traditional law enforcement departments. This bill increases the maximum grant amount for agencies participating in the program from $2,000 to $5,000 per apprentice and adjusts eligibility requirements to ensure apprentices live in areas with at least 10% poverty. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission develop mental health wellness policies for law enforcement and correctional facilities while establishing a workgroup to study ways to increase employment in these sectors.

Rachel Muñoz (R) Kevin Harris (D) Nicole Williams (D) Christopher Bouchat (R) Charlotte Crutchfield (D)

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 1091: Education – Blind and Visually Impaired Students – Textbook Equity

This bill ensures that blind and visually impaired students in Maryland receive textbooks and learning materials in accessible formats like braille, large print, or audio. It requires school districts to coordinate with the state's Instructional Resources Center to provide these specialized materials by a specific date each school year. Publishers must supply electronic files for new textbooks so they can be converted into accessible formats, while the state will cover costs for materials that cannot be produced otherwise. The law also mandates that students with some remaining vision still have the right to learn braille if it is deemed appropriate for their education. Additionally, the bill establishes new certification standards for teachers specializing in working with blind and visually impaired students.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 220: Public Health – Public Health Services and Protections – Revisions

This Maryland bill removes the legal exception that previously allowed active-duty military personnel aged 18 to 21 to purchase tobacco products, aligning state law with the federal minimum age of 21. It also updates signage requirements for tobacco retailers to clearly state that no one under 21 may be sold tobacco products, regardless of military status. Additionally, the legislation reorganizes several public health and child welfare functions by transferring responsibility for emergency medical payments in child abuse cases from the Department of Health to the Governor's Office, repealing a yearly expert panel on child abuse research, and allowing the reallocation of unspent cancer grant funds between counties.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 751: Public Health – Opioid Restitution Advisory Council and Fund – Revisions

SB 751 updates Maryland's Opioid Restitution Fund to increase transparency and ensure specific funding priorities are met. The bill requires the Department of Health to share allocation decisions with an advisory council and post those decisions online within a week. It mandates that at least 25% of the fund's money each year goes to community-based recovery organizations. Additionally, the law outlines how funds must be used for evidence-based treatments, pilot programs, and evaluations, while establishing new reporting rules for local governments receiving money.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 454: Disclosure of Tax Information - Tax Compliance Activity and Binding Data Use Agreements

This bill modifies Maryland tax laws to allow the Comptroller to share specific tax information with designated tax compliance organizations and certain governmental entities to help enforce tax laws. Under the new rules, the Comptroller must require recipients of this data to sign binding agreements that limit how the information can be used and mandate supervision of the recipient. The legislation also establishes strict confidentiality requirements, prohibiting officers and employees of these organizations from sharing the data except under specific, limited circumstances. By redefining "tax information" and creating these oversight mechanisms, the bill aims to facilitate better cooperation in tax administration while maintaining data privacy protections.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1402: Montgomery County – State’s Attorney’s Office Personnel – Application of County Personnel Laws and Collective Bargaining MC 12–24

This bill changes how certain full-time employees of the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office are managed by bringing them under the county's standard personnel laws. It grants these workers, including non-supervisory assistant state's attorneys, the right to organize and negotiate collectively over wages, hours, benefits, and performance evaluations. The law establishes a split employer structure where the County Executive handles negotiations for pay and benefits while the State's Attorney manages other terms like work assignments, with the County Executive retaining final approval over the budget for any new agreements. Additionally, the legislation aims to streamline the process by encouraging a single collective bargaining agreement if one union represents both county government employees and State's Attorney staff.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 755: State Board of Social Work Examiners - Board Membership and Certified Social Worker Licenses

This Maryland bill updates the composition of the State Board of Social Work Examiners and modifies licensing rules for social workers. It changes the board to consist of 12 members, including specific representatives for bachelor and master social workers, while removing the requirement for a separate seat for certified social workers. The legislation also simplifies the process for out-of-state applicants to obtain Maryland licenses by allowing those with equivalent credentials and exam experience to qualify without needing a specific licensed certified social worker designation. Additionally, it adjusts the criteria for license reissuance to align with these updated professional categories.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 181: Qualifying Nonprofit Organizations - Training and Reentry Services - Funding

This Maryland law authorizes the state to provide up to $1 million annually in grants to nonprofit organizations that offer automotive repair training to incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals. To qualify for these funds, organizations must train at least 50 people each year and be able to issue nationally recognized automotive repair certificates to participants. The Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services will manage the distribution of these grants and require recipients to report how the money was used and the outcomes achieved. The program is set to run from fiscal year 2026 through 2028, with the goal of improving employment opportunities for people reentering society.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 799: Health Occupations – Limited License to Practice Dentistry – Services for Adults

This Maryland law creates a new pathway for dentists who earned their degrees outside the United States or Canada to obtain a limited license to practice. To qualify, these applicants must have completed a pediatric dentistry residency, finished a fellowship at a recognized school, and agree to work for at least two years in public health clinics or federally qualified health centers serving underserved patients. The bill requires approval from specific health officials and school deans before granting the license, which restricts the dentist to treating only patients at the assigned facility. If the dentist fulfills the two-year service requirement and passes additional exams, they may later apply for a full, general dental license.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1110: Maryland Intrastate Emergency Management Assistance Compact - City of Frederick

This bill authorizes the City of Frederick to participate in the Maryland Intrastate Emergency Management Assistance Compact, allowing it to request and receive mutual aid during emergencies from other local jurisdictions. By updating state laws, the legislation formally adds Frederick to the list of eligible areas and ensures that requests for help regarding fire, law enforcement, medical services, and other critical functions can be made through designated representatives. The process allows for both verbal and written requests, which must be confirmed in writing within ten days if made verbally, and requires detailed information about the type and amount of aid needed. Effective October 1, 2024, this change integrates Frederick into the existing framework designed to facilitate cooperation and resource sharing among Maryland's counties and cities during crises.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1330: Allegany County - Alcoholic Beverages - Underage Employees

This bill lowers the minimum age for employment at licensed establishments in Allegany County from 18 to 16. It allows individuals aged 16 and 17 to work in these businesses but restricts them from selling or serving beer, wine, or liquor, reserving those tasks for employees at least 18 years old. The law applies specifically to Allegany County and takes effect on July 1, 2024.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1269: Baltimore County - Alcoholic Beverages - License Applications - Notice

This bill updates the rules for applying for alcoholic beverage licenses in Baltimore County by allowing the local licensing board to post notices online instead of requiring publication in local newspapers. Under the new provisions, the board can fulfill the public notice requirement by posting a completed application notice on its website at least 14 days before a hearing date. Applicants must still receive notice through a physical sign posted at the proposed business location for 10 days prior to the hearing. The change takes effect on July 1, 2024, and aims to modernize how the public is informed about license applications in the county.

Bill results