Maryland Bills

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2025

HB 122: Public Safety - Police Accountability - Police Officer Complainant

HB 122 allows police officers to file complaints about misconduct by other officers with county police accountability boards, expanding the current system that previously only accepted complaints from the public. The bill requires counties to establish these boards, which must hold quarterly meetings with law enforcement, appoint civilian members, and annually report on disciplinary trends and recommend policy improvements. Complaints must include the officer’s name, incident details, and contact information, and must be forwarded to the relevant law enforcement agency within three days. The review process for all complaints must be completed within one year and one day from the date filed.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2025

HB 1339: Employees' Pension System - Town of Forest Heights Employees - Membership

HB 1339 allows certain employees of the Town of Forest Heights to opt into Maryland's Employees' Pension System, making membership optional rather than mandatory. It requires these employees to make a one-time, irrevocable election to join by a specific deadline, with service credit provided for prior employment with the town. The bill also prohibits service credit for employees joining after a designated date and aligns Forest Heights' participation with existing pension system rules. This affects Forest Heights town employees directly, granting them pension options while maintaining standard eligibility requirements for the state system.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2025

HB 1374: Prekindergarten - 3-Year-Olds - Private Providers (Parental Choice for Prekindergarten Act)

HB 1374 expands eligibility for publicly funded prekindergarten to include 3-year-olds in certain private providers. It modifies the definition of "Tier I child" to include 3-year-olds whose families meet income requirements (≤300% federal poverty level) or are homeless, live in counties where private providers have opted to enroll them, and choose full-day programs. Eligible private providers (licensed, charging tuition ≤ "cost of quality," meeting quality standards) must sign a memorandum of understanding with the State Department of Education and county boards to enroll these children. The bill directly affects qualifying 3-year-olds, eligible private prekindergarten providers, and local departments responsible for notifying families about enrollment options.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2025

HB 1403: Primary and Secondary Education - Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment Count - Alterations (Truancy Reduction Act of 2025)

HB 1403 changes how Maryland calculates state education funding for public schools by altering the definition of "full-time equivalent enrollment." It replaces the previous 3-year average enrollment method with an average of daily enrollment counts on specific dates (September 30, December 31, March 31, and the last day of the prior school year). The bill also excludes the 2020-2021 school year from calculations if it appears in the 3-year average, addressing pandemic-era enrollment disruptions. This directly affects all Maryland school districts receiving state education aid, as it will determine their funding amounts starting in fiscal year 2027.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2025

HB 186: Police Discipline - Trial Board Composition

HB 186 amends Maryland law to change the composition of trial boards that handle police discipline cases. It requires the chair of these boards to be an attorney meeting specific qualifications (Maryland resident for 5+ years, admitted to practice, and vetted for integrity), replacing the previous requirement for administrative law judges or retired judges. The bill applies to all local police departments (except Baltimore City Police) and statewide/bi-county agencies, maintaining civilian and officer members but altering the attorney appointment process. Key provisions include new residency, citizenship, and professional qualifications for the attorney chair, with appointments made by county executives or the Chief Administrative Law Judge. The changes take effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 10, 2025

HB 1179: Montgomery County - Board of Education - Student Cellular Phone Policy MC 13-25

HB 1179 requires Montgomery County public schools to create a policy limiting student cell phone use during instructional time (defined as the school day excluding lunch). The policy must prohibit phone use except for specific exceptions: documented needs in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), health monitoring, or when directed by staff for educational purposes. Students must store phones securely in lockers, closed backpacks, or designated devices during instructional periods. The bill applies solely to Montgomery County schools and takes effect July 1, 2025.

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SB 917: Electronic Payment Transactions - Interchange Fees - Calculation and Use of Data

SB 917 requires payment processors and credit/debit card issuers to exclude tax and gratuity amounts from the transaction total when calculating interchange fees for electronic payments. This means merchants will no longer be charged fees on taxes or tips, and issuers must refund any fees already collected on these portions upon receiving proper documentation from merchants. The bill also prohibits certain entities from using electronic payment data for specific purposes and classifies violations as unfair or deceptive trade practices under Maryland's Consumer Protection Act. These changes directly affect merchants and payment processors in Maryland by altering fee structures and data usage rules.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SB 969: Howard County - Department of Fire and Rescue Services - Current and Prospective Employee Medical Cannabis Use

SB 969 prohibits Howard County's Department of Fire and Rescue Services from discriminating against current or prospective employees who legally use medical cannabis under Maryland law or another state's program. It specifically bans actions like refusing to hire, firing, or denying benefits solely due to this authorized use. However, the department may restrict employees from working while impaired by cannabis or using it within 12 hours before their shift. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, directly affecting fire department staff and job applicants with medical cannabis authorization.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SB 824: Alcoholic Beverages - Prohibition on Class A Licenses for Chain Stores, Supermarkets, and Discount Houses - Repeal

SB 824 repeals a Maryland law that prohibited local licensing boards from issuing Class A alcoholic beverage licenses to chain stores, supermarkets, or discount houses. This change would allow large retail businesses (like Walmart or Target stores) to obtain licenses for on-premises alcohol sales in Maryland, which they were previously barred from doing under current law. The bill directly affects retail chains, supermarkets, and discount retailers seeking to sell alcohol on-site. The repeal takes effect July 1, 2025, modifying Section 4-205 of Maryland’s Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis law.

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SB 831: Credit Regulation - Reverse Mortgage Loans - Escrow Accounts

SB 831 requires lenders for reverse mortgage loans in Maryland to establish escrow accounts to cover specific homeowner expenses. Lenders must deduct a portion of each loan payment from borrowers and deposit it into the escrow account, ensuring timely payments for property taxes, insurance, ground rents, water/sewer assessments, and homeowners association fees. This directly affects reverse mortgage borrowers by guaranteeing these essential expenses are paid on time. The bill amends Maryland’s Commercial Law to implement this escrow requirement, effective October 1, 2025.

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SB 14: Vehicle Laws - Electric Bicycles - Certificate of Title, Registration, and Insurance

SB 14 requires electric bicycles in Maryland to be titled and registered with the Motor Vehicle Administration, ending their previous exemption as bicycles. Owners must submit applications electronically, maintain specified security measures, and insurers may exclude certain coverage benefits or add deductibles for electric bicycles. The bill amends Maryland’s vehicle and insurance laws (specifically sections 13-102, 13-405, 19-505(c), and new sections 13-424/13-939.3) to implement these changes. This directly affects electric bicycle owners by adding registration and insurance requirements previously not applied to them.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2025

HB 1479: Education - Procurement Contracts and Memoranda of Understanding - Reporting

HB 1479 requires Maryland public school systems to report procurement contracts and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) entered into during the previous fiscal year. Covered entities - such as county boards, school superintendents, public schools, and the state education office - must submit these reports to the state superintendent by September 1 annually. The state superintendent then compiles these reports into a public annual report by October 1, detailing each contract/MOU, total contract amounts, and payments made. This report is shared with specific legislative committees, increasing transparency around education spending without altering budget authority.

Bill results