Maryland Bills

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 348: Baltimore City - Alcoholic Beverages - License Extension

HB 348 extends the expiration date of a racetrack license at 5200 Park Heights Avenue in Baltimore City until July 1, 2029, allowing the business to complete renovations. This bill directly affects the specific racetrack location by preventing license expiration during renovation work. The extension is temporary, automatically ending on July 31, 2029, without requiring further legislative action. It does not change general licensing rules for other businesses or areas in Baltimore City.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 276: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Coverage for Orthoses and Prostheses (So Every Body Can Move Act)

SB 276, the "So Every Body Can Move Act," requires Maryland’s Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs to cover orthoses (custom braces or supports for musculoskeletal conditions) starting January 1, 2027. It mandates coverage for the devices themselves, components, repairs, and replacements without lifetime limits if a treating provider deems them medically necessary for daily living or work activities. Insurers must follow Medicare’s medical necessity standards and cannot impose higher copays or separate annual dollar limits for this coverage. The bill directly affects Medicaid enrollees and private insurance plan members needing orthotic devices, ensuring broader access to these essential medical supports.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 315: Landlord and Tenant - Discrimination in Housing for Income-Based Housing Subsidies and Positive Rental History Reporting

HB 315 prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to potential tenants who pay rent using income-based housing subsidies (like federal vouchers) based on the tenant's income, credit score, or past credit issues that occurred before they received the subsidy. It directly affects landlords and tenants using such subsidies, making refusal a discriminatory housing practice enforceable by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. The bill includes an exception allowing landlords who receive funding requiring income qualification (e.g., for income-restricted housing) to collect financial information as a condition of that funding.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 445: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Coverage for Orthoses and Prostheses (So Every Body Can Move Act)

HB 445, the "So Every Body Can Move Act," requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance Program) and private health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs to cover orthoses (supportive devices like braces) starting January 1, 2027. It mandates annual coverage for orthoses, including repairs, replacements, and components, without lifetime dollar limits or higher copays than other medical benefits. The bill clarifies that coverage must include all orthoses deemed medically necessary by a provider for daily living or essential job activities. It directly affects Maryland residents enrolled in Medicaid or private health plans covering hospital/medical benefits, ensuring access to these devices without restrictive lifetime limits or unnecessary barriers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 361: Baltimore City – Alcoholic Beverages – License Extension

SB 361 extends the expiration date of a racetrack license for a specific location at 5200 Park Heights Avenue in Baltimore City until July 1, 2029. This allows the business to continue operating under its existing license while completing renovations at that address. The bill amends existing law (§ 12-2202 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article) to provide this temporary extension. The extension takes effect July 1, 2026, and automatically ends on July 31, 2029, with no further legislative action required.

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 456: Howard County - Alcoholic Beverages - Gift Basket Permit Ho. Co. 2-26

HB 456 creates a new "Gift Basket Permit" in Howard County for specific businesses to sell and deliver alcohol-containing gift baskets. It authorizes flower shops or gift basket businesses (without existing alcohol licenses) to sell baskets with up to 72 ounces of beer, 2.25 liters of wine, or 2.25 liters of liquor to customers aged 21+ - requiring ID verification at delivery. The permit excludes chain stores/supermarkets, caps alcohol sales at 10% of total revenue, and requires purchasing alcohol from licensed retailers. Crucially, it exempts this permit from Howard County’s standard 400-500 foot school proximity restrictions for alcohol licenses. The permit costs $100 annually and modifies existing state law (Maryland Annotated Code §23-1003.1 and §23-1602).

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 323: Juvenile Court - Jurisdiction, Detention, and Confinement (Youth Charging Reform Act)

SB 323 (Youth Charging Reform Act) removes restrictions that previously prevented Maryland juvenile courts from handling cases involving youth aged 16 and older accused of serious crimes. It repeals provisions that excluded such cases for offenses like murder, robbery, gun crimes, and aggravated violence, expanding juvenile court jurisdiction to include these charges. Now, youth 16+ facing these specific allegations will be processed in juvenile court instead of being automatically sent to adult court. This change affects juvenile courts, prosecutors, and youth aged 16+ charged with the listed offenses under Maryland law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 325: Land Use - Permitting - Development Rights (Maryland Housing Certainty Act)

SB 325, the Maryland Housing Certainty Act, requires local governments and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission to base housing development approvals solely on land use rules in effect when a developer submits a complete application. It grants developers "vested rights" protecting approved projects from future rule changes for a set period and prohibits collecting development taxes or impact fees before construction is finished. The bill directly affects housing developers seeking permits and local regulatory agencies managing land use. It creates a new "Maryland Housing Certainty Act" section in state law to formalize these protections and fee restrictions.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 359: Property Tax Credit - Urban Agricultural Property - Alterations

HB 359 amends Maryland's property tax credit for urban agricultural property, clarifying eligibility and adding procedural requirements for jurisdictions granting the credit. It defines "urban agricultural property" as land between 1/8 and 5 acres in priority areas (not assessed as agricultural) used for activities like crop production, beekeeping, environmental mitigation, community programs, or agritourism. The bill requires jurisdictions to evaluate the credit's effectiveness after 3 years and, if terminating it, must provide the public with at least one year's notice and an opportunity to comment or appeal. This directly affects Baltimore City, counties, and municipalities that administer the tax credit for qualifying urban farms and agricultural operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 320: Anne Arundel County - Property Tax Credit - Rural Legacy Program

HB 320 creates a property tax credit for Anne Arundel County landowners who sell development rights under the Rural Legacy Program. It allows the county to grant a credit against the county property tax for real property located in a designated Rural Legacy Area (as defined in Maryland’s Natural Resources Article) where the owner has sold development rights. This directly affects rural landowners participating in the Rural Legacy Program who choose to restrict future development on their land. The credit replaces an existing provision and becomes effective for tax years beginning after June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 330: Maryland Legal Services Corporation - Board of Directors - Membership

HB 330 increases the number of voting members on the Maryland Legal Services Corporation's Board of Directors from nine to twelve. It changes the membership composition to require seven lawyer members (admitted to the Maryland Bar) and five nonlawyer members, up from five lawyers and four nonlawyers. The bill also raises the vote threshold for removing a board member from seven to nine members. This directly affects how the Board represents Maryland's geographic regions and legal service needs. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 252: Maryland Legal Services Corporation - Board of Directors - Membership

SB 252 increases the Maryland Legal Services Corporation's Board of Directors from nine to twelve voting members. The bill changes the composition to require seven lawyer members (admitted to the Maryland Bar) and five nonlawyer members, up from five and four previously. Board members must be Maryland residents representing different geographic regions and serve three-year terms with staggered appointments. This directly affects the governance structure of the Corporation, which provides legal aid to low-income residents across Maryland. The bill does not alter the executive director's nonvoting role or the requirement for Governor appointments with Senate consent.

Bill results