Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 549: Criminal Procedure - Forensic Genetic Genealogical DNA Analysis and Search - Applicability for Deceased and Missing Individuals

This Maryland law clarifies that forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis can be used to identify deceased or missing children under 18 whose locations are unknown. The bill explicitly excludes these specific cases from certain legal restrictions that might otherwise apply to the use of publicly available genetic databases for law enforcement searches. By adding a new section to the state's criminal procedure code, the legislation ensures that investigators have clear authority to utilize genealogy tools for finding missing minors without age-related limitations. The changes take effect on October 1, 2024, and do not alter the definition of forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis itself.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 335: Baltimore City - Alcoholic Beverages - B-D-7 Licenses - Hours of Sale

This bill updates the rules for when specific liquor stores in Baltimore City can sell alcohol by changing the geographic boundaries that determine their operating hours. It directly affects business owners holding B-D-7 licenses, which allow them to sell beer, wine, and liquor. The law sets different sale times depending on where a store is located, with some areas restricted to sales between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. or 10 p.m., while others may operate from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. The legislation also clarifies that stores in certain zones cannot extend their hours beyond these limits even if they choose to open earlier or close later. These changes take effect on June 1, 2024.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 906: Garrett County – Sheriff’s Salary – Alteration

This bill changes how the salary of the Garrett County Sheriff is determined, replacing a complex list of historical pay amounts with a new rule that sets the salary at 80% of the State's Attorney's salary. It also removes the requirement for a local commission to study and make recommendations regarding the Sheriff's pay, while keeping the commission's ability to review salaries for other county officials. The changes will take effect on October 1, 2024, and will apply to Sheriffs whose terms begin on or after that date.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 1497: State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners - Scope of Practice, Reinstatements, and Examinations by Health Care Providers

This Maryland bill expands the legal definition of massage therapy to include specific instrument-assisted techniques like cupping and muscle scraping, provided practitioners complete additional training. It also streamlines the process for restoring licenses to massage therapists who have let their credentials lapse, as long as they apply within five years and meet standard renewal requirements. Furthermore, the legislation requires the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners to mandate a physical examination by a designated healthcare provider if there is evidence that a therapist or applicant might harm clients. Finally, the bill establishes that refusing such an examination will be treated as proof of incompetence unless the refusal was beyond the individual's control.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 1036: Task Force on the Creation of a Division of Returning Citizens and Expanded Reentry Services - Establishment

This bill establishes a Task Force in Maryland to study the creation of a new Division of Returning Citizens within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The Task Force will be composed of state officials, legal representatives, and community members, including individuals with lived experience of incarceration and their family members. Its primary duties are to assess current reentry services, identify gaps in support, and develop a plan to expand housing, employment, socialization, and health assistance for people leaving prison. The group must also ensure its recommendations address the needs of both men and women returning to society. Finally, the Task Force is required to submit a report to the General Assembly outlining its findings and proposed plan for the new division.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 944: Nonprescription Drugs and Devices - Provision by Registered Nurses and Sale of Contraceptives Through Automatic Devices

This Maryland law updates regulations on nonprescription drugs and contraceptives by allowing registered nurses to provide these items without a prescription in local health departments. It also changes vending machine rules to permit the sale of most nonlatex condoms while still banning natural membrane condoms and contraceptives in schools. The bill defines specific roles for nurses and clarifies penalties for violations, ensuring that these policy changes are clearly outlined without speculation on their broader effects.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 1099: Emergency Services - Automated External Defibrillator and Naloxone Co-Location Initiative - Requirements for Public Buildings

This Maryland bill requires that naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, be placed in the same location as automated external defibrillators within all public buildings. The State Emergency Medical Services Board, working with the Department of Health, will manage this initiative using existing funds from the Opioid Restitution Fund. To encourage participation, the law grants legal protection from lawsuits to building owners and individuals who provide or administer this naloxone in good faith. These changes aim to increase the availability of life-saving equipment and medication in public spaces to address both cardiac arrest and drug overdoses.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 328: Hospitals - Financial Assistance Policies - Revisions

This Maryland law updates hospital financial assistance policies to help low-income patients access free or reduced-cost care and payment plans. It removes the previous requirement that these programs must align with a hospital's specific mission or service area, giving hospitals more flexibility in designing their aid. The bill also changes how hospitals evaluate a household's assets for eligibility, prohibiting them from looking only at savings over $100,000 and mandating that certain assets like retirement accounts, a primary home, and a car be excluded from the calculation. These changes take effect on October 1, 2024, and apply to all acute and chronic care hospitals regulated by the state.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 1001: Alcoholic Beverages - Class 4 Limited Winery License - Requirements and Authorizations

This bill updates regulations for Class 4 limited winery licenses in Maryland to allow producers to make wine and pomace brandy using a wider variety of state-grown agricultural products instead of requiring them to use only grapes or other specific fruits. It modifies ownership requirements so that license holders must either own at least 20 acres of Maryland-grown crops or ensure that at least 51% of their wine ingredients come from the state, with an option for the Secretary of Agriculture to grant temporary exemptions. The legislation also expands the types of food these wineries can prepare and sell on-site, such as ice cream, pizza, and various baked goods, while clarifying rules about blending purchased finished wine with their own production.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 398: Prince George's County - Taxes on Telecommunications Services - Use of Revenue PG 406-24

This bill authorizes the Prince George's County Council to impose a tax on telecommunications services to generate revenue for local education funding. The legislation allows the county to choose between a sales and use tax or an alternative excise tax of up to $3.50 per month per telephone line, with at least 90% of the collected funds required to support school operating expenses. Additionally, the bill clarifies that these funds can be used to meet the county's statutory requirements for elementary and secondary education without reducing state aid. The law also specifies that the tax applies to services originating or terminating within the county and outlines exemptions for certain types of telephone services.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 16, 2024

SB 439: Family Law - Victims of Domestic Violence Program - Certification and Grant Fund

This bill establishes a certification requirement for domestic violence programs in Maryland, mandating that they be approved by the federally recognized State domestic violence coalition to operate as comprehensive programs. It creates a special, nonlapsing grant fund within the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services to provide financial support to these certified public and private nonprofit organizations. The fund will be used to cover program operations and establish additional shelters, with interest earnings automatically added to the fund to ensure its growth. Additionally, the legislation sets standards for program supervision and evaluation while allowing the state to seek funding from federal, local, and private sources.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 16, 2024

HB 115: Criminal Procedure - Victims' Rights - Notification of Release From Confinement (Jaycee Webster Victims' Rights Act)

This bill, known as the Jaycee Webster Victims' Rights Act, requires Maryland commitment units to inform victims, their representatives, and witnesses when a defendant or child respondent is released from confinement. When sending these notifications, the facility must include the name and phone number of a specific victim services employee from the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center to assist those affected. The law also mandates that commitment units notify these individuals about other significant events, such as escapes, transfers, or the death of the person in custody. Additionally, the legislation protects the privacy of witnesses and victims by prohibiting commitment units from sharing their contact information with the defendants.

Bill results