Maryland Bills

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2025

HB 1285: Baltimore County - Property Tax - Homeowners Property Tax Credit

This bill requires Baltimore County to provide a supplemental property tax credit for homeowners, building on Maryland's existing state-level homeowners credit. It calculates the credit based on household income (0% on the first $18,000, 6.5% on the next $4,000, and 9% on income over $22,000) but excludes homeowners with combined income exceeding $72,000 or net worth over $200,000 in the applicable year. The State Department of Assessments and Taxation will handle application processing and eligibility determination, while Baltimore County must reimburse the state for administrative costs. The credit applies to tax years beginning after June 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2025

HB 1386: Howard County - Board of Education - Mandatory School Holidays Ho. Co. 10-25

HB 1386 requires Howard County public schools to close on the first day of Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Lunar New Year, and Rosh Hashanah if these holidays begin on a weekday, and also on Yom Kippur. This bill amends Maryland law to mandate these specific closures for Howard County schools only, overriding general holiday rules. The requirement will take effect on July 1, 2025, adding these days to the mandatory school holiday schedule. It directly affects Howard County students, staff, and school operations by creating new required closure days.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2025

HB 1384: Howard County - Study on Detecting Deadly Weapons in Public Middle and High Schools Ho. Co. 15-25

HB 1384 requires Howard County's school board to study how to better detect deadly weapons in public middle and high schools and rapidly report findings to law enforcement. The study must audit current security systems, evaluate new methods like AI software for weapon detection, and assess improvements such as strategic camera placement and handheld metal detectors at entrances. The school board must complete this study and submit findings by October 1, 2025, to the State Superintendent and Howard County's legislative delegation. This bill directly affects Howard County public schools and their security protocols, with the study lasting one year before expiring on June 30, 2026.

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2025

HB 1330: Baltimore County - Residential Real Property - Moratorium on Assessment Increases and Review of Assessment Practices and Methodology

HB 1330 imposes a moratorium on increases to the assessed value of residential property in Baltimore County for taxable years 2025-2026, preventing most value hikes except for specific circumstances like zoning changes, major renovations ($100,000+ value added), or errors. The bill also requires the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to hire an independent third party by December 1, 2026, to study and recommend improvements to residential property assessment practices. The Department must then report findings and proposed actions to the Governor and General Assembly. This directly affects Baltimore County homeowners whose property values would otherwise rise, while mandating a review of assessment methodology.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2025

HB 1295: Baltimore County - Transfer Tax - Exemption for First-Time Home Buyers

HB 1295 exempts qualified first-time homebuyers in Baltimore County from the local transfer tax when purchasing improved residential property as their primary residence. It applies to individuals who have never owned residential property in Maryland that served as their principal residence, or to co-buyers/mortgage guarantors who won’t occupy the home. Buyers must provide a sworn statement confirming their first-time status or mortgage role, verified through a diligent inquiry. The exemption removes a direct cost burden for eligible homebuyers, effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 4, 2025

HB 416: Prince George's County - Special Rate for Vacant and Abandoned Property - Application of County Tax Limitation PG 412-25

HB 416 allows Prince George's County to set a special property tax rate for vacant and abandoned properties without being subject to the county's standard tax limitation rules. This special rate applies to properties identified as vacant and unfit for use through housing violation notices. The county governing body must set this rate annually, and must report details like the number of affected properties, revenue changes, and whether properties are suitable for adaptive reuse. The bill modifies Maryland tax law to exempt these special rates from typical county tax growth limits, effective for taxable years starting after June 30, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SB 700: Notarial Acts - Reasonable Accommodations

SB 700 amends Maryland's notary law to require notaries to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with physical disabilities who cannot sign documents alone. It specifically mandates that notaries read entire documents aloud to blind individuals before notarizing and clarifies procedures for when someone directs another person to sign for them (requiring specific wording on the document). The law directly affects people with disabilities needing signing assistance and all Maryland notaries. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SB 780: Prekindergarten - 3-Year-Olds - Private Providers (Parental Choice for Prekindergarten Act)

SB 780 modifies Maryland's prekindergarten program to allow eligible private providers to enroll 3-year-olds who meet income or homelessness criteria (family income ≤300% of federal poverty level or homeless status). It changes the definition of "Tier I child" to include these 3-year-olds, but only in counties where private providers choose to participate and sign a memorandum of understanding with the State Department of Education and county boards. Private providers must be licensed, charge no more than the "cost of quality" tuition, and enroll only families meeting the eligibility requirements. This expands access to publicly funded prekindergarten for low-income 3-year-olds through private providers, without changing the existing income thresholds for 4-year-olds.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SB 794: Maryland Home Improvement Commission - Residential Solar Power System Installation - Contractor License Required

This bill requires contractors to hold a valid license from the Maryland Home Improvement Commission to install residential solar power systems. It amends the definition of "home improvement" to explicitly include solar installations (specifically, "installation of solar power system equipment that is used to generate electricity for use on the property"), making such work subject to the state's existing contractor licensing rules. The law applies to any person (excluding property owners' employees) who performs or offers to perform these installations for residential properties. The requirement will take effect on October 1, 2025.

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SB 193: State Highway Administration - Memorials - Maryland Route 210 in Prince George's County

SB 193 requires the Maryland State Highway Administration to erect a memorial sign on Maryland Route 210 in Prince George's County, specifically between mile markers 11.359 and 11.672 (near Kerby Hill Road ramps). The sign must include the wording "IN MEMORY OF THE LIVES LOST ON MARYLAND ROUTE 210. WE ARE MAKING OUR HIGHWAY SAFER." This bill is procedural and commemorative, directly affecting travelers on that Route 210 segment by honoring individuals who died in past accidents on that stretch. It does not alter traffic laws or safety infrastructure.

died · Maryland · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SB 786: Correctional Services - Private Detention Facilities - Deprivation of Rights, Privileges, and Immunities

SB 786 prohibits private detention facilities from depriving individuals of rights protected by the U.S. or Maryland Constitutions, the Maryland Declaration of Rights, or federal law. It authorizes Maryland’s Attorney General to investigate violations, issue subpoenas, enter facilities, and interview detainees, and requires written notification to county governing bodies if violations are found. The Attorney General may file civil lawsuits to enforce the law after a 30-day notice period (unless an imminent threat exists), seeking damages up to $25,000 per violation or injunctive relief. This bill directly affects private facilities operating under state contracts and the individuals detained within them.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2025

HB 1271: Health - Abortion - Ultrasound and Wait Time

HB 1271 requires healthcare providers to perform a transabdominal ultrasound before most abortions, with a mandatory 24-hour waiting period after the ultrasound (or 2 hours if the patient lives 100+ miles from the facility). The bill mandates specific ultrasound standards, including measuring fetal development, offering to show the image or fetal heartbeat, and documenting results. Crucially, it states patients cannot be forced to accept any offered services during the ultrasound, such as viewing the image or receiving a printout. This law directly affects women seeking abortions in Maryland and the healthcare providers performing them, adding procedural requirements to the existing abortion access framework.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

Bill results